15 May 2024 – UNODC is delivering training on informant network management, surveillance techniques and the judicial treatment of wildlife crime scenes as part of a new partnership with the CITES Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (or MIKE) Programme. In April, twenty-five participants, including eco-guards, judicial police officers and judicial authorities, came together in Zakouma National Park, Chad, for a specialized workshop. Their goal: to strengthen the fight against poaching and the illegal trade of wildlife, a scourge threatening elephant populations and other emblematic species.
The instructors began by raising awareness of the magnitude of the crisis. Experts from UNODC and the Garoua Wildlife School of Cameroon shared their experiences, highlighting the urgency of the situation and the importance of reducing this growing threat.
The key objectives of the workshop were clearly defined: awareness, intelligence gathering, improving intervention skills, and enhancing collaboration between eco-guards and judicial authorities. Participants were involved in an intensive hands-on training. They learned to identify and preserve crime scenes, gather evidence, and draft clear and relevant reports to support legal proceedings. Intervention and investigation kits were distributed, providing eco-guards with the necessary tools to deal with wildlife offenses in the field.
Practical exercises simulated real-life scenarios, allowing participants to put their newly acquired knowledge into practice. In-depth discussions on investigation and surveillance strategies enhanced their understanding of the challenges and opportunities in the fight against wildlife crime. Participants left the workshop equipped with improved knowledge and skills, ready to face the challenges of the field.
In May, this training was replicated in Mole National Park, Ghana, with participants from Ghana, Liberia and Nigeria. A series of similar trainings will be delivered by UNODC in partnership with CITES MIKE across West and Central Africa. The Garoua Wildlife School instructor involved in this exercise was previously trained as part of a UNODC-TRACE train the trainer programme in Cameroon.
UNODC’s Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment
