National Post columnist, Joe O’Connor, visited the DNA Building at Trent University to meet with Dr. Bradley White and members from the Kenya Wildlife Service about how Kenya and Canada are teaming up to deter illegal poaching. Read the story here.

Eager to learn from experts in wildlife DNA forensics, a contingent from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) arrived at Trent University on March 15, 2015 to receive training at the world-class Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensic Centre (NRDPFC) located in the DNA Building at Trent.

“Kenya is setting up a laboratory for DNA forensics to enforce their wildlife statutes as well as international statutes regarding the trading of endangered species,” explained Dr. Brad White, who is director of the NRDPFC. “The goal is to protect the black rhino and other African mega fauna.”

The Kenyans are being trained to undertake the same kind of analyses that NRDPFC staff do. They are learning how to develop individual animal profiles and how to write reports that can be submitted in court as evidence, so they will lead to successful prosecutions.

“We are one of the best places to get this type of training,” Dr. White said. “We were the first lab in North America to ever submit DNA evidence for a wildlife case, back in 1990, so we’re fairly well known.”

KWS intends to replicate the equipment used at the NRDPFC according to Moses Otiende, a molecular biologist at KWS who is leading the lab setup.

“We chose to come to Trent because it has a very good reputation,” Mr. Otiende said. “Trent is highly specialized in wildlife issues and they work with the Ministry of the Environment to support wildlife prosecution, similar to the Kenya Wildlife Service.”

 The Kenyans commended the expertise of their instructors. “It has been wonderful training,” said Dr. Dominic Mijele, senior veterinary officer for KWS. “The lecturers have been very good in the subjects of forensic molecular biology. We’ve learned a number of new things that we will apply when we get back home to Kenya.”

“We are grateful to Trent for the support they have given us and for accepting our request to come and do training,” Mr. Otiende added.

Both Dr. White and Mr. Otiende see this as a beginning of a long-term relationship between NRDPFC and KSW. “We hope to sign a Memorandum of Understanding so we will act as a resource for them as they do their cases and encounter problems,” Dr. White said.

Posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2015.