Malindi Resident Charged Over Possession of Endangered Green Sea Turtle

A man in Malindi was taken to court on Wednesday after being found with an endangered green sea turtle.

The suspect, identified as Kazungu Mwavuo Ngala, was brought before the Malindi Law Courts on Wednesday following his arrest. This operation was the result of a collaborative endeavour involving several organizations including the Ulinzi Africa Foundation, local community groups from Kapini, the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in Malindi, and the Intelligence Department of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). Abigael Cate, the Programme Manager at Local Ocean Conservation, highlights the significance of this arrest in the broader context of marine preservation efforts.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, she recounted receiving a call the previous evening regarding the rescue of a sea turtle that had been seized from a suspected poacher. Following its recovery, the turtle was transported to a specialized treatment facility for medical examination and safekeeping to present it as evidence during court proceedings. Ngala denied the charges brought against him while appearing before Malindi Resident Magistrate Grace Mutemi. He was subsequently released on a bond of Sh 200,000 with an additional surety of Sh.100,000. The case is scheduled for mention on September 12th of this year.

Cate has issued a stern warning to potential poachers, emphasizing that illegal activities targeting endangered sea animals would be met with the full force of the law. She expresses hope that this incident would send a clear message to anyone considering putting such threatened species at risk. Furthermore, Cate has revealed plans to seek certification that would allow the organization to capture digital evidence, thereby reducing the need to bring live animals to court and minimizing additional stress on sea turtles. The green sea turtle is one of many marine species facing the threat of extinction due to poaching and habitat destruction.

In recent years, conservation efforts in Kenya have intensified with various organizations working tirelessly to protect these vulnerable creatures. The Kenya Wildlife Service has been at the forefront of these efforts often collaborating with local communities and international bodies to ensure the survival of endangered species. In Malindi specifically, KWS community scouts have played a crucial role in conserving sea creatures within the Malindi Marine Park.