By Patience Lunda:
Cases of pangolin and ivory trafficking have gone down this year as compared to the same period last year, the Ministry of Tourism has said.
Statistics indicate that 112 kilogrammes of ivory have been seized this year while 198 kilogrammes were seized last year and nine pangolins have been seized as compared to 19 seized last year.
26 people dealing in pangolin and ivory trafficking have been arrested whereas last year, 45 people had been arrested.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Joseph Nkosi has attributed the decrease to deployment of wildlife staff at both exit and entry points of the country as well as introduction of the Dog Detective Unit.
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Nkosi has since pleaded with the citizenry to report individuals indulging in the malpractice.
“We will continue to ensure the downward trend by deployment wildlife staff and engaging people to stop indulging into the malpractice and we know this [malpractice] can completely be eradicated,” he said.
On his part, Institute of Sustainable Development (ISD) executive director, Godfrey Mfiti said the decrease is a welcome development, but stressed on the need for more community awareness on the importance of protecting wild animals, since the perpetrators are part of various communities.
Mfiti added that government needs to empower communities around games reserves with skills so that they have alternative sources of income.
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“This will ensure that our protected species are preserved but more needs to be done in terms of community awareness because it is these communities that get into these reserves and engage in wildlife trade,” he said.
The killing and trafficking of wildlife has been driven by a demand for illegal wildlife products, particularly ivory and pangolins.
These products are processed into other items.
