Addis Ababa, June 12, 2023 (Walta) Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority in collaboration with International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) launched a five-day training on preventing illegal wildlife trade and smuggling in Addis Ababa today.
Speaking at the launching of the training, the director of the Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority, Kumera Wakjira, indicated that the training aims “to build the capacity of law enforcement officers on the detection, identification of the commonly trafficked wildlife species and their products and deterrence of their trade in the Horn of Africa.’’
He said that wildlife smuggling and trade is a global issue and a multi-billion dollar business involving powerful non-state actors and individual in a cross-boundary criminal enterprises that can only be controlled through cooperation among states, institutions, and international organizations. To this end, this training is prepared for people working in wildlife sector from seven countries of Horn of Africa.
Ethiopian Tourism State Minister, Sileshi Girma, on his part, noted that tourism is given due attention by the government as one of the five economic pillars. There has been a general understanding among people in the sector that Ethiopian tourism is concerned with cultural and historical attractions. However, nowadays nature tourism, particularly ecotourism, is given special attention by the government, he underscored.
Wildlife experts, and officials from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Djibouti, Eritrea, Uganda, and Somaliland are attending the training under the title “Detecting Illegal Species through Preventive Training (DISRUPT)”.
In the coming four days, training on the identification and detection of wildlife species, wildlife smuggling and concealment techniques, the role of technology in fighting wildlife crime, online wildlife crime monitoring and enforcing, wildlife exhibit handling and management, chain of custody forensic integrity and so on will be held.
By Tewodros Sahile