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IFAW calls for inter-agency collaboration to curb poaching

Xinhua, April 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) on Wednesday called for inter-agency collaboration amongst wildlife law enforcement, the judiciary and customs officials to tackle poaching in Africa.

IFAW East Africa Regional Director James Isiche said the recent seizure of 3 tonnes of ivory from Kenya in Thailand is a testament of a large global problem that threatens the existence of the elephant.

"The only way countries are going to stop poaching of elephants and illegal trade is by cooperating with agencies such as Interpol, and the law enforcement bodies of other governments to map and profile those behind this most tragic slaughter of elephants," Isiche said in a statement issued in Nairobi.

Thailand seized 3 tonnes of ivory hidden in tea leaf sacks from Kenya in the second-biggest bust in the country's history.

The 511 elephant tusks worth 6 million U.S. dollars, bound for Laos seized upon arrival Saturday at a major port in Chonburi province in eastern Thailand.

The bust came after customs officials received a tip-off in Laos and Thailand and tracked the containers from Kenya. The ivory was shipped out of Kenya on March 24 and went through ports in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore before coming to Thailand.

Isiche said no country or organization can single-handedly combat wildlife killing and trafficking, hence the need to develop strong partnerships not only amongst countries but international agencies.

"IFAW is happy to support such initiatives and strongly believes that a coordinated inter-country and inter-agency approach amongst source, transit and destination countries is critical to effectively mitigate wildlife crime," he said.

The director said as part of a worldwide capacity building initiative, IFAW has trained over 2,450 law enforcement officers in wildlife trafficking prevention in several countries throughout Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania, and the Caribbean since 2006.

Trainings, Isiche said, are held in collaboration with national institutions in the respective countries and other organizations including Interpol. Endi