CHALLENGES OF ILLEGAL TRADE IN WILDLIFE IN EASTERN AFRICA REGION

1. CHALLENGES OF ILLEGAL TRADE IN WILDLIFE IN EASTERN AFRICA REGION DR. HELIDA OYIEKE Collins Handa Bernard Agwanda NATIONAL MUSEUMS OF KENYA APRIL 2006

2. 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 • Game trophies • Pets • Medicine

3. Animals and Plants Exploited

4. Common Animals from Region

5. Plants common in the trade

6. Locally traded wildlife/consumed illegally)

7. World Trends in Ivory consumption

8. % occurrence of bushmeat in sampled Nairobi butcheries

9. 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

10. 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

11. Linkages between law enforcement and Science • Scientists confirm identity and submit technical report to law enforcers for prosecution

12. 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

13. Current identification services rely on: • Skills & experience of taxonomists at NMK and other scientific institutions • Diverse and well curated taxonomic reference collection at NMK

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. Some of the confiscated trophies housed at NMK elephant rhino Elephant turks Warthog Hippo

20. Some of the confiscated trophies housed at NMK Cont. Leopard skins Rhino horns

21. Ivory products common in Asian Markets

22. Leopard skin Leopard

23. Cheeter skin Cheeter skin

24. Serval cat skin