Ivory trade investigator stabbed in home attack

A leading American investigator into the illegal ivory and rhino horn trade has been found stabbed to death in his home in Kenya.

A family member went to Esmond Bradley Martin’s house in Nairobi on Sunday to check on him after he did not respond to phone calls. His body was found on a bed with a stab wound to the neck.

Conservationist Paula Kahumbu said Mr Martin led investigations into the illegal trade of elephant ivory and rhino horn that threatened the two species with extinction. He was at the forefront of exposing ivory traffickers in the US, Congo, Vietnam, Nigeria, Angola, China and recently Myanmar.

British High Commissioner to Kenya Nic Hailey said: “A passionate and committed man who made abigdifferencetoourplanet. May he rest in peace.”