Rethinking Wildlife Trade: Kenya’s Path to Protection and Reform

By Victoria Musimbi

Kenya is increasingly being called upon to rethink its approach to wildlife trade as new research highlights growing risks to conservation, animal welfare, and public health. While the country remains globally recognized for its rich biodiversity, experts say it now has a critical opportunity to lead in strengthening protections and shifting toward more sustainable, ethical systems.

Presenting new findings, Patrick Muinde, Research Manager at World Animal Protection, outlined the global scale of the trade. Between 2015 and 2021, an estimated 30 million individual animals entered illegal markets.

Over a longer period from 2000 to 2020 nearly one million animals from 487 species were found in commercial trade across more than 80 countries.

“These figures help illustrate the scale of wildlife trade globally, both legal and illegal,” Muinde said, noting that the issue extends beyond criminal networks and is also embedded in regulated systems.

Turning to Kenya, his presentation highlighted the country’s growing role in international markets. More than 870,000 live CITES-listed animals reported as captive-bred were exported between 2013 and 2023, with reptiles accounting for the vast majority.

Annual exports of live reptiles rose sharply from just over 8,500 individuals in 2013 to more than 86,000 in 2023 a tenfold increase that signals rapid expansion.

While captive breeding is often presented as a sustainable alternative, the findings raise critical concerns. More than 77 percent of traded species show declining or unknown population trends, and discrepancies in trade data point to gaps in monitoring and regulation.

Seizures of species such as the critically endangered pancake tortoise further highlight the persistence of illegal activity alongside legal systems.

Muinde also urged a shift in how wildlife stories are told, noting that public attention often focuses on iconic species like elephants and lions, while less visible species continue to be heavily exploited.

Pangolins trafficked for their scales, reptiles bred for the pet trade, and even ants and amphibians are increasingly part of global demand.
He cited the African grey parrot as a stark example.

Once common in forests such as Kakamega, the species has declined due to demand as an exotic pet. In captivity, many suffer extreme stress, sometimes leading to self-harm such as feather plucking.

For Tennyson Williams, Director of World Animal Protection Africa, the findings point to the need for a fundamental shift in approach.

“We must move away from a system that treats sentient beings as commodities,” he said. “Wild animals deserve protection, not exploitation.”

The organization is calling for stronger regulation of captive breeding and ranching operations, including improved traceability systems to prevent wild-caught animals from entering legal markets. It also emphasizes routine animal welfare audits, noting that even registered facilities often fall short of acceptable standards.

Beyond Kenya, reducing global demand remains critical. The appetite for exotic pets, traditional medicine, and luxury wildlife products continues to drive the trade, underscoring the need for international cooperation.

There are also growing public health concerns. With an estimated 70–75 percent of emerging human diseases being zoonotic, increased interaction between humans and wild animals especially under poor conditions raises the risk of disease transmission.

As Kenya reviews its wildlife laws under the proposed Wildlife Conservation and Management Bill (2025), stakeholders say the country has an opportunity to provide global leadership by strengthening protections and improving transparency in trade systems.

Williams also called on journalists to amplify evidence-based reporting and bring greater attention to overlooked species.

By prioritizing animal welfare, strengthening oversight, and reducing demand for wild animals, Kenya can shift from being a source in global trade to a leader in wildlife protection. For conservationists, the message is clear: protecting wildlife is not just an environmental responsibility, but a shared commitment to a healthier and more sustainable future.