Ivory Investigator Esmond Bradley Martin Killed In Kenya

Those who loves elephant and cares not to be killed to benefit ivory traders will be shocked to know a 76-year-old American geographer has been killed in his house in Kenyan capital Nairobi. For many years he had contributed to the fight against elephant poaching and the illegal wildlife trade as well.

Kenyan police said Esmond Bradley Martin was stabbed to death on Sunday afternoon and four suspects have been arrested. He used to live in the suburbs of Nairobi.

Without revealing the identities of the suspects the Nairobi Police Chief Japheth Koome said Martin lived in Kenya for decades.

The world-renowned ivory investigator mainly focussed on demanding end of the illegal rhino and ivory supply chain. He analyzed Asian markets in China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Laos and some more countries related to ivory trade. His work was also credited after the decision of China to shut down its legal ivory markets in 2017.

Analysts and experts from wildlife conservation groups call him unsung hero as he was one of the important people at the forefront of exposing the ivory trade. Usually his work contributed in the most remote and dangerous places.

It is estimated poaching has killed about 110 000 elephants in past one decade.