The Department of National Parks and Wildlife has disclosed that the country is recording a decline in pangolin illegal trade, but an increase in ivory trade.
Assistant senior parks and wildlife officer Bertha Chipanda said this in Lilongwe on Wednesday during a wildlife crimes training workshop organised by the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, in conjunction with the Association of Environmental Journalists (AEJ).
Chipanda attributed the decline in pangolin trade to stiffer penalties that courts have been giving offenders in recent arrests and convictions.
“Law enforcement agencies and the general public’s lack of awareness on the importance of wildlife and laws governing it are part of the challenges in dealing with poaching and illegal wildlife trade,” said Chipanda.
She added that lack of resources and inadequate collaboration among law enforcement agencies are other challenges the wildlife industry faces; hence, the need for improving on dealing with the trade.
Chipanda, however, commended courts for meting out stiffer penalties and punishments to wildlife offenders, stressing that it is stiffer penalties that have helped to reverse the trend.
On his part, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust project manager Frank Zoto said the workshop’s main objective was to increase awareness on the nature of wildlife crimes in Malawi and, also, discuss the country’s obligations in protection of endangered wildlife species.
“We also wanted to amplify the role of the media in promoting wildlife by taking interests to advocate for environmental conservation. The media keeps the public informed about the importance of wildlife and the challenges it faces,” he said.
AEJ president Titus Linzie thanked Lilongwe Wildlife Trust for organising the training and, also, emphasised the need for journalists to report crimes against wildlife seriously.
“Will shall wisely use the knowledge and raise awareness to the public,” he said.
