By Benadeta Mwaura - Reporter
Kenya, December 11 2025 - In a record-breaking international operation targeting wildlife trafficking, law enforcement agencies from 134 countries have seized nearly 30,000 live animals and massive quantities of illegally traded wildlife products in a coordinated month-long sting dubbed Operation Thunder 2025.
The campaign, led by Interpol and the World Customs Organization (WCO), also confiscated tons of bushmeat, plants, timber and identified more than 1,100 suspects involved in transnational criminal networks.
Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza emphasised the global scope of the crime: “Operation Thunder once again exposes the sophistication and scale of the criminal networks driving the illegal wildlife and forestry trade, networks that increasingly intersect with all crime areas, from drug trafficking to human exploitation.”
Many of the seized animals were destined for the exotic pet trade, including birds, reptiles, primates and turtles. Authorities also reported a record 5.8 tonnes of illegally traded wild meat, with Kenyan officials seizing more than 400 kg of giraffe meat during the operation, a stark reminder that wildlife crime is not just a distant problem but affects African nations at the source.
The Threat to Biodiversity and Kenya’s Frontline Role
Kenya is globally recognised as a premier wildlife tourism destination, attracting millions of visitors drawn to its national parks, iconic migrations and flagship species like lions, elephants and giraffes.
In 2024 alone, inbound tourism grew 15 percent to 2.4 million arrivals, with wildlife experiences at the heart of that surge. President William Ruto has described Masai Mara’s Great Wildebeest Migration, which alone draws over 400,000 visitors a year, as the “crown jewel” of Kenya’s tourism offerings.
Wildlife trafficking undermines these conservation gains by fueling biodiversity loss, threatening ecosystem balance and diminishing the very heritage that underpins much of Kenya’s tourism earnings.
Conservationists warn that the illegal trade in bushmeat and exotic animals disrupts food chains and can introduce invasive species or diseases with broader ecological impacts.
Operation Thunder’s record seizures, which also included confiscations of rare plants and timber, highlight the complexity and reach of wildlife crime, often linked to other illicit activities like drug trafficking and human exploitation.
The estimated annual value of the illegal wildlife trade is around $20 billion, though experts believe the real figure may be much higher.
More from Kenya
Conservation Momentum in Kenya: From Tourism to Tree Hugging Records
In Kenya, efforts to protect wildlife and natural habitats have expanded beyond anti-poaching units to include community programmes, ecotourism partnerships and grassroots activism.
One example gaining international attention is Truphena Muthoni’s setting a new world record for the longest continuous tree hug, a symbolic act advocating for forest and environmental protection.
Muthoni has broken the 72-hour tree-hugging record, amplifying awareness of conservation issues locally and globally. Conservation experts see such symbolic acts as valuable complements to enforcement efforts like Operation Thunder.
As Dr. Jane Wanjiku, a Kenyan wildlife ecologist, notes: “Protecting wildlife isn’t just about stopping poachers. It’s about inspiring communities, creating pride in our ecosystems and connecting young people emotionally to the natural world.”
Kenya’s integrated approach, combining law enforcement, sustainable tourism, community stewardship and global awareness campaigns, aims to safeguard its wildlife against both traditional threats like poaching and newer, more complex transnational networks revealed by operations like Thunder 2025.
What’s Next
Interpol and its partners say the intelligence gathered from the operation will help refine strategies and enhance enforcement.
But experts caution that long-term success will also depend on reducing consumer demand, closing legal loopholes, improving prosecutions and strengthening international cooperation.
For Kenya, which depends on wildlife for both ecological balance and economic growth, the twin imperatives are clear: deepen conservation action at home and support global efforts to dismantle the criminal networks that threaten the natural riches that define the nation.
