An American conservationist regarded as the world’s foremost investigator into the illegal trade in ivory and rhino horn has been found stabbed to death in Kenya.

The body of Esmond Bradley Martin was found by his wife Chryssee at their home in Langata on the outskirts of Nairobi with at least one stab wound in his neck, police said.

Raising fears that politically connected wildlife mafias were seeking to eliminate campaigners exposing their networks, Mr Bradley Martin was the second conservationist investigating the ivory trade to meet a violent death in six months.

Last August, Prince William gave warning that campaigners investigating serious wildlife crime had become targets following the murder of Wayne Lotter, a South African conservationist whose work led to the arrest of Chinese ivory traffickers.

“Wayne Lotter’s violent and apparently targeted murder shows just how dangerous the situation has become in relation to the big money associated with the illegal ivory and rhino horn trades,” the Prince, who is patron of the wildlife charity Tusk Trust, said.

“Rangers and conservationists put themselves in harm’s way every day to stop organised criminals destroying Africa’s natural resources.”