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ANA NORMAN BERMÚDEZ

The former poachers fighting wildlife crime in Kenya

In Kenya's Aberdare National Park, a group of former poachers from the local community dedicate their lives to curbing wildlife crime and promoting conservation.

The full version of this story was published on AlJazeera.

Samuel Kariuki, an Aberdare Joint Surveillance Unit scout, examines a red cedar tree that has been i

Magura waterfalls in Aberdare National Park, central Kenya. The park covers a large expanse of close

Elephants at Aberdare National Park, one of them with an injured trunk - possibly the result of a sn

The Aberdare Joint Surveillance Unit, composed of seven members, is tasked with curbing wildlife cri

Mercy Nyambura, the only woman in the AJSU team, walks past a herd of buffalo during a patrol. Like

AJSU scout Simon Kariuki sits in the forest. “As an African boy,” he says, “I used to go in the fore

During a patrol, AJSU scouts come across a zebra. “We try not to disturb the animals,” says Wilson G

Old bones and skulls from confiscated carcasses of poached animals.

AJSU scout Zachary Kamau walks through the thick Aberdare forest, followed by a ranger from the Keny

Wilson and the other scouts take a rest by a creek. “When they come into the unit,” says Wilson abou

Mercy holds a piece of olive tree bark found by the fence. “Someone has been taking firewood from th

Mercy sits in the car with the other scouts on their way to find a campsite. Their work requires com

Once they have chosen a camp base for the night, the scouts chop dead wood so they can make a fire.

One of the scouts lights a fire.

The team prepares dinner together. “Where I started back in 2010, I'm not in that position today. I

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