Project update - May 2005

Fighting cross border wildlife crime
E. S. Kisamo - Director, Lusaka Agreement Task Force

The Task Force assigned an undercover agent called "John" to closely monitor elephant ivory trafficking in western Kenya. The agent followed the culprits for several months working with them and noting carefully how they carried out their illegitimate business. The officer and the agent had frequent meetings. Later on, John informed the Task Force that the ivory traffickers had arranged elephant ivory for sale at a price that was about US$20 per kilogram. The Task Force arranged for a covert purchase of the ivory. With a good backup team from Kenya Wildlife Service, 10 people (9 men and 1 woman) were arrested and 17 elephant tusks were seized. This is one of the examples of some of the work of the Lusaka Agreement Task Force.

Timber seized in Congo - Brazzaville		Suspects arrested in Western Kenya display their seized ivory
Four guenon monkeys and one of the six baby Chimpanzees seized at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport

Cross border wildlife crime is as rampant as ever in the Eastern and Central African region. For many years, the region has endured large commercial poaching of their wildlife as well as illegal trade of specimens. Besides, there is also a wide range of illicit activities taking place at varying scales of operation and with different levels of seriousness. Significant smuggling of timber, succulent plants, ivory, live and dead animals is rampant in this region.

Civil wars, such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Sudan have exacerbated wildlife crime. Reports from the DRC indicate that soldiers and armed militias are engaging in poaching of wildlife to trade in their products. In that vast country the Parc National des Virunga, Okapi Fauna Reserve and the Garamba National Park have been most adversely affected. It has also been alleged that the UN Observer Mission in Congo (MONUC) troops under the UN working in DRC have often been involved in illegal wildlife trade.

Illegal trade in bush meat is now more devastating on wildlife populations than ever before. For instance, in Kenya some traders have often sold bush-meat disguised as livestock meat to unsuspecting customers. In Tanzania, it is estimated that close to 160,000 wild animals are harvested illegally from the Serengeti ecosystem to provide game meat. The seriousness of the illegal cross border trade in bush-meat was recently revealed when poachers were intercepted in Kenya's Tsavo West National Park, and caught red-handed with eland carcasses ready to be taken on light truck for marketing in a neighbouring country.

Smuggling of live animals is another big problem in the region. In January 2005, six young chimpanzees and four guenon monkeys were seized at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Nairobi en route to Lagos, Nigeria. The seized animals disguised as pet dogs in a kennel were being transported without any shipping documents.

Fighting cross border wildlife crime is currently facing many challenges. There are inadequate financial and human resources to enable effective enforcement in some countries. Many authorities are not suitably resourced or experienced to fight trafficking of wild fauna and flora. To overcome these challenges adequately staffed, trained and equipped professional law enforcement officers are needed.

Highly organised criminal groups are not scared of getting involved in wildlife crime as there are low chances of getting caught. When caught the penalties to be paid are invariably so low that they do not impinge on the profit, nor do they act as a significant deterrent for committing similar crime in the future. This is particularly notable when comparing the low penalties imposed with the enormous resources needed to track wildlife offenders.

Availability of ready markets especially in the Far East and Europe has greatly fuelled illegal wildlife trade. Citing the attributes of the "law of demand", the lucrative markets have been a major demand factor that influences supply and hence the cause for increased poaching at various sources especially in Africa. Currently the Task Force is investigating two major cases of ivory seizures in Singapore and Shanghai originating from Eastern and Central Africa.

To effectively fight against wildlife crime across borders there is a need to strengthen regional co-operation initiatives, such as the Lusaka Agreement by encouraging more African Countries to sign up. This is necessary because wildlife offenders are often shrewd and take advantage of enforcement weaknesses and unnecessary red tape, as is the case in most countries in Africa. Concerted action to combat this seriously damaging trade, and address the problems around the increasing involvement of organised crime groups within it, needs to be taken at national, regional and international levels.

In order to address the issue of wildlife crime, the public, the judiciary and other law enforcement agencies need to be educated on consequences of illegal trade in wildlife through awareness programmes.

The Lusaka Agreement task force has contributed immensely in the fight against wildlife crime. It has organized and participated in the training of over 300 Wildlife Law Enforcement Officers. With the support of partners, it has carried out over 50 operations of cross border nature since its inception. Of the field operations undertaken, a total of 6,900 kg of ivory, 680 worked ivory pieces and 500 kg of bush meat were recovered with an average of 50 assorted big cat skins and 40 reptile skins. Timber accounted for about 55 metric tonnes. In all these operations, over 90 suspects were arrested in which 2 rifles and 2 vehicles were recovered. These operations were initiated by the Task Force through its intelligence contacts, and working closely with the Agreement's National Bureaus.

Since its inception, the Task Force has received invaluable support from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation (DSWF) as one of the key partners in fighting wildlife crime. The Task Force therefore greatly appreciates the support so far provided to LATF and to other organizations fighting wildlife crime in other parts of the world. Consequently, we look forward to our strengthened partnership in muzzling the potential challenges in conservation and other similar endeavours.

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