Transcript ILLICIT TRADE IN WILDLIFE IN EASTERN AFRICA REGION

CHALLENGES OF ILLEGAL
TRADE IN WILDLIFE IN
EASTERN AFRICA REGION
DR. HELIDA OYIEKE
Collins Handa
Bernard Agwanda
NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KENYA
APRIL 2006
1
Introduction
The conservation of endangered fauna and flora
species is of global concern
Illegal trade in wildlife is presently the third largest
contraband business (after trade in illegal drugs and
weapons) and worth an average of $10 billion per
annum.
Some contributing factors
Policy issues
International demands
1.
Game trophies
2.
Pets
3.
Medicine
2
Animals and Plants Exploited
3
Common Animals from Region
Group/Species
Part/Form
Destination
Elephant
Tusks
Asian continent
Rhino
horns
Asia
Leopard
Skin/pet
Asia/Europe/US/Mid East
Cheetah
Skin/pet
Asia/Europe/US/Mid Eas
Snakes
Pet/poison
Europe/US
Chameleon
pet
Europe/US
Pancake tortoise
pet
Europe/US
Mt bush viper
pet
Europe/US
Reed Frogs
pet
Europe/US
4
Plants common in the trade
Species/group part
destination
Aloes
Prunus africana bark
Europe/middle
East
Local/Europe
Camphor
timber
local
Podocarpus
timber
local
leaves
5
Locally traded wildlife/consumed
illegally)
Species/group
Part
Buffalo
meat
Antelope (impala meat
duikers, etc
Zebra
meat
Crocodile
Sold to conventional
butcheries
Local/Tanzania
Tanzania/Local
Tanzania/local
Meat/skin Middle East/Local
6
World Trends in Ivory
consumption
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
HG
KONG
1979
JAPAN
1981
EC
TAIWAN
1983
MACAO
1985
CHINA
INDIA
1987
7
% occurrence of bushmeat in
sampled Nairobi butcheries
Bush meat
25%
Unidentified samples
13%
Spoilt sampes
1%
Mixed
bushmeat/domestic
meat samples
19%
Domestic meat
42%
8
Impacts of Illegal trade
Species loss with adverse ripple effects
Reducing key wildlife population

Loss of revenue due to reduced tourist
attraction
Health risks arising from zoonotic
diseases
Economic costs due to surveillance,
policing & legal battles
Loss of life during poaching
9
Present Monitoring & Detection
systems in Kenya
Management & monitoring services:


KWS, FD, KEPHIS, Customs dept.
MOH-Public health dept.
Scientific Authorities

NMK, KARI, KFRI, Govg. Chemists
Law Enforcement:
Police
Wildlife Rangers
10
Linkages between law
enforcement and Science
Scientists
confirm identity and submit technical
report to law enforcers for prosecution
11
Challenges in the System
Insufficient technical capacity at identification.
Taxonomists are becoming less and less (regional)
Policy conflicts within the region (e.g Kenya vs.
Tanzania).

In 2005, 70% poachers in Mara were from TZ!
Civil strife
Armed poachers from neighboring countries

Insecurity
Human wildlife conflicts

Reason to poach
Inadequate facilities and human capacity for prevention,
monitoring and detection
12
Current identification services
rely on:
Skills & experience of taxonomists at NMK
and other scientific institutions
Diverse and well curated taxonomic
reference collection at NMK
13
Identification Techniques
Morphometrics
 Identification to species level (mainly by NMK)
Ouchterlony Immunodiffusion tests
 used to distinguish bushmeat from domestic meat
 also identifies specimens to species using their
antiserum.
Molecular and DNA techniques
 Mainly used in human cases and not wildlife
14
Weaknesses of Identification
Techniques in use
Ouchterlony Immunodiffusion tests (not
commonly used)
Works for flesh specimens but not other
trophies
NMK identification method relies on
morphometrics of species which has its
own challenges esp. in dealing with similar
looking species
15
DNA Barcoding as forensic
technique
DNA Barcoding is a technique that uses a short
gene sequence from a standardized region of
the genome as a diagnostic “biomarker” for
species.
Different species have different DNA barcodes,
making it possible to use barcodes to:




identify specimens
discover possible new species, and
to make taxonomy more effective
Has a high potential for use in monitoring illegal trade
16
Recommendation
Harmonized policies on wildlife trade

nationally & regionally
Proper coordination

Scientific and legal authorities
Provision of adequate and efficient
monitoring & detection equipment/facility
Build capacity in molecular techniques


Establishing and strengthening DNA
Barcoding facilities and human capacity
Data basing and documentation
17
Some of the confiscated trophies
housed at NMK
elephant
rhino
Elephant turks
Warthog
Hippo
18
19
Some of the confiscated trophies
housed at NMK Cont.
Leopard skins
Rhino horns
20
Ivory products common in Asian Markets
21
Leopard skin
Leopard
22
Cheeter skin
Cheeter skin
23
Serval cat skin
24