Dubai: The Ministry of Environment and Water has collaborated with Etihad Airways and other agencies to combat the growing threat of illegal wildlife smuggling.
The collaboration started following the ministry’s recently concluded workshop with Etihad Airways and other major stakeholders, namely Traffic, the wildlife trade monitoring network; Environment Agency Abu Dhabi; Emirates Wildlife Society — WWF; and the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
The workshop, which was held at a time when the demand for protected animals and their products continues to increase, zoomed in on detecting potential trafficking of animals through airports.
The two-day event helped broaden each organisation’s knowledge of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites), of which the UAE has been a signatory since 1990.
Eng Mariam Mohammad Saeed Hareb, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of Water Resources and Nature Conservation Affairs at the ministry, said: “The workshops reflects the UAE’s efforts in enhancing the effectiveness of international policies and legislation and their implementation as we work to combat illegal trade in wildlife, in particular the species that are listed under Cites.”
Richard Hill, Chief Operations Officer of Etihad Airways, said: “Illegal trafficking is a growing problem, which not only threatens endangered species but is a potential risk to passengers and airport employees. Collaboration in this area is essential in ensuring we can continue to curtail this illegal trade.”
The workshop attendees were taught how to bust organised crime’s smuggling methods in a practical sense.
Tom Milliken, the Elephant and Rhino Programme Coordinator for Traffic, said: “Traffickers are highly organised, coming up with ever more elaborate means to forge documents or conceal animals or animal products.”
Etihad Airways has a clear policy in place to support animal protection, including strict compliance with all regulations for the carriage of live animals.
Etihad Airways does not accept the carriage of live animals intended for use in scientific research and the airline banned the carriage of shark fins in 2011. In 2015 it announced that it will no longer accept carriage of hunting trophies using animal products on its flights.
