Africa-Press – Cape verde. AN infamous international ivory trafficking baron, whose initial 20-year sentence was overturned in 2018, has been apprehended once again in Mombasa, Kenya.
This time, authorities found Feisal Mohammed Ali in possession of 2,2 kilogrammes of rhino horn.
The high-profile arrest was the result of a coordinated operation between the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Rapid Response Police Unit.
Wildlife trafficking remains a grave threat to Africa’s endangered species, largely due to persistent loopholes in evidence collection and management that hinder successful prosecutions.
Senior Wildlife Crime programme officer at International Fund for Animal Welfare, Samuel Mutua, highlighted the challenges faced in combating illegal poaching.
“This is why we are investing heavily in capacity building workshops across the region for judicial and prosecutorial authorities to shine a spotlight on wildlife crime,” Mutahi said.
Ivory trafficking has had particularly devastating effects in southern Africa, with countries like Zimbabwe bearing the brunt.
Zimbabwe’s iconic elephant population has been severely impacted by poaching driven by the lucrative ivory trade.
In an effort to combat the ongoing threats IFAW has launched Music for Wildlife, a groundbreaking concert series streaming on Trace Global Network TV and online platforms.
This bold initiative brings together over 150 African artistes including CKay, Focalistic, Musa Keys, Kamo Mphela, Joyous Celebration and Zakes Bantwini, who use their voices to protect Africa’s iconic wildlife and wild spaces.
“Produced by Wild Africa and supported by IFAW, the series celebrates Africa’s rich cultural heritage while raising awareness about urgent issues like poaching, habitat loss and climate change,” read a statement by IFAW.
“Each weekly 24-minute concert combines unforgettable performances with powerful wildlife stories, reaching over 350 million viewers in 190 countries.”
Africa is home to a quarter of the world’s biodiversity.
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