Conservation in East Africa: Rangers enlightened on monitoring illegal killing of elephants
Conservation in East Africa: Rangers enlightened on monitoring illegal
killing of elephants
EnviroNews Nigeria
April 1, 2025
See link
https://www.environewsnigeria.com/conservation-in-east-africa-rangers-enlightened-on-monitoring-illegal-killing-of-elephants/
for photo.
The Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants Programme of the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES
MIKE Programme), in collaboration with the College of African Wildlife
Management (CAWM), Mweka in the Democratic Republic of Congo, recently
conducted a two-week training programme at Rungwa Game Reserve in Singida
Region, United Republic of Tanzania.
The Training of Trainers (ToT) initiative was designed to equip rangers
with the expertise to apply their knowledge in the field while also
enabling them to train and mentor other rangers in their respective
conservation areas. It was funded by the European Union under the MIKES+
project which builds on successful previous CITES MIKE projects implemented
in African elephant (Loxodonta africana) range States.
The initiative brought together wildlife rangers from five East African
elephant range States, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the
United Republic of Tanzania. Its primary purpose was to strengthen the
skills and knowledge of rangers in combating wildlife crime, with a
specific emphasis on elephant mortality data collection and reporting as
well as introducing them to crime scene management techniques.
The training builds on similar initiatives previously implemented in
Southern and Central Africa, bringing together rangers from both regions in
partnership with the Southern African Wildlife College (SAWC) and the
Garoua Wildlife College in Cameroon. It strives to foster collaboration and
strengthen data-driven conservation efforts across the region’s elephant
range States.
CITES Secretary-General, Ivonne Higuero, said: “Well-trained and
well-equipped rangers are the backbone of elephant conservation efforts. By
strengthening their capacity to monitor and respond to threats, we are not
only enhancing data-driven decision-making but also reinforcing the
frontline defense against wildlife crime. This training initiative
exemplifies the power of regional collaboration in ensuring the survival of
the species for future generations.”
A Combination of Theory and Practical Training
In the classroom, rangers engaged in interactive sessions covering key
aspects of wildlife monitoring and conservation. Each lesson was followed
by a recap session, allowing trainees to reinforce their learning before
moving on to new topics. Rangers were trained on the objectives of the
CITES MIKE Programme, highlighting their critical role in the
decision-making process and the importance of accurately collecting data
when an elephant carcass is found.
This data includes the type and cause of death, detection method, age and
sex of the elephant before death and the presence or absence of tusks.
Participants also engaged in practical exercises to ensure they could
collect this information systematically using standardised protocols and
apply crime scene management techniques to preserve evidence for court
proceedings.
For over 20 years, rangers across Africa and Asia have been collecting
elephant mortality data in the field, providing CITES Parties with valuable
insights into the conservation status of African and Asian elephants. The
CITES MIKE Programme serves also as a critical database for conservation
areas, supporting the development of effective anti-poaching strategies and
improving site management. Beyond tracking poaching trends, MIKE data also
plays a key role in identifying emerging threats, such as human-elephant
conflict (HEC) and the impacts of climate change on elephant populations.
“This training has been an eye-opening experience,” said Lucy Tisa, a Kenya
Wildlife Service ranger. “It has given us valuable skills to monitor and
protect elephant populations in our home countries. We are grateful for the
opportunity to learn and collaborate with fellow rangers from across the
region.”
Strengthening Collaboration for Future Conservation Efforts
The success of the training highlights the importance of continued
collaboration between conservation organisations and well-established
ranger training institutions, such as CAWM, which is widely recognised for
its expertise in conservation training in the East Africa region.
This approach aligns with the CITES MIKE Programme’s sustainability vision,
which seeks to integrate MIKE training into ranger training institutions,
enabling them to independently deliver the training to their students and
visiting rangers. By transferring these skills, the Programme not only
expands its reach – ensuring more conservationists are equipped with
essential expertise in monitoring the illegal killing of elephants – but
also strengthens local capacity.
Leveraging their deep understanding of regional challenges, this approach
enhances the long-term effectiveness of the Programme, enhanced efforts to
combat wildlife crime and strengthened conservation of Africa’s elephant
populations.