Wildlife parts and products identification training concluded

South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) in coordination with Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB)-Centre level and with support of partner organizations organized a training from 20 to 22 December 2022 at Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal. The three days training program entitled 'Identification of wildlife parts and products' was completed successfully in participation of more than 45 officials from different government organizations. The participants represented Protected Area Offices, Division Forest Offices, Customs, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police, Nepal Army and Nepal Civil Aviation Authority. They were capacitated on various aspects of wildlife crime especially on field based identification of wildlife parts and products.

The training program commenced with informal opening in presence of Mr. Hari Bhadra Acharya, Chief Conservation Officer of Chitwan National Park, Mr. Manoj Kumar Sah, Investigation officer at Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), Dr. Baburam Lamichhane, Project In-Charge - Biodiversity Conservation Centre (BCC) of National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC).

The training course was focused on wildlife crime scenario in national level with major illegally traded floral and faunal species in Nepal; wildlife crime control initiatives including institutional mechanism; wildlife law and prosecution; and CITES and its implementation. The course specifically emphasized on identification of commonly traded wildlife & their parts (flora and fauna) with reference to morphological and forensic technics as well as field tips for real and fake items. Hands on experience of different wildlife stockpiles including rhino horn, musk pod, elephant tusk, pangolin scales, antlers, bones of tiger, leopard and bear was major part of the training. Practice of hands on training in the field for such heterogeneously composed trainees is known to be the first of its kind in Nepal. In addition, the training program brought together different law enforcement agencies and created a platform to share their experiences and technical know-how gathered during discharge of duties.

A brief closing program was organized on the third day of the program. Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, Chief Enforcement Coordinator of SAWEN and Director General of DNPWC, congratulated all the trainees and requested to apply the knowledge enhanced through the training during duty delivery. Dr. Dhakal recalled outputs of the joint efforts garnered from law enforcement agencies of Nepal in curbing wildlife crime and reiterated the commitment of collaborative actions in the fight against wildlife crime.

The training was organized at NTNC-BCC Sauraha, Chitwan with support of NTNC, Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund through Zoological Society of London and Himalayan Nature.