World renowned conservationist, ivory trade and rhino horn trafficking investigator, Esmond Bradley Martin, was found murdered in his home in Karen, Nairobi on Sunday.

According to police reports, Esmond Bradley’s (73) lifeless body was discovered by his wife around 4 pm on Sunday after she returned home from a nature walk.

The body had a stab wound in the neck.

Esmond Bradley is celebrated as a global authority on ivory and rhino horn trafficking.

The former UN special envoy for rhino conservation was known for his undercover work establishing black-market prices.

“Esmond was at the forefront of exposing the scale of ivory markets in USA, Congo, Nigeria, Angola, China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Laos and recently Myanmar. He always collaborated with Save the Elephants and worked with many of us generously sharing his findings & views,” said Wildlife Direct CEO and National Museums of Kenya Chair Dr. Paula Kahumbu.

At the time of his death, Esmond is said to have just returned from a research trip to Myanmar and was in the process of writing up his findings.

His work on illegal wildlife markets helped pressure China to ban the rhino horn trade in the 1990s, and domestic ivory sales, which came into force this year.