UWA has discovered most animals smuggled are endangered species and tracking down the smugglers has been a challenge considering the failure to indentify wildlife specimens at border points.

Illegal trade in wild fauna and flora remains of great concern not only to wildlife institutions but also other law enforcement agencies in the Great Lakes region. According to the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA), more than 130 seizures of different species of wildlife were made in Uganda in 2005.

The Assistant Commissioner for Enforcement at Uganda Revenue Authority, Mr Enoch Walugembe, said the methods used to smuggle wildlife include among others the use of diplomatic baggage, carrying of small items like trophies and single item ornamental plants thus arousing little scrutiny.

During a workshop organised by Lusaka Agreement Task Force and UWA in Kireka recently, Mr Walugembe said illegal wildlife trading in Uganda is significant and most of the animals confiscated are either endangered or threatened species.

Common species illegally traded include elephants, ivory, parrots, snakes, monkeys, chameleons, butterflies, crested cranes, plant species and bush meat.

"In July 2006, 12 pieces of worked elephant tusks each weighing about 300 grammes were impounded in Busia entering Uganda in a hand luggage of a Chinese national," revealed Mr Walugenbe.

He called upon all stakeholders and law enforcement agencies to work together so that they fight wildlife crime in Uganda.

Only 10 licensed companies are allowed to trade in wildlife in Uganda. They include Hasena Investments U, ltd, Navira Exports, On Tour Uganda, Ranchers, Sam's Restaurant Cinnamon Grill Ltd SMICO, Skin Craft Industries Ltd, Tropical Fauna Ltd, and SS Breeding Farm.

Mr Samuel Amanya, a UWA Community Conservation officer, said most of the breeding centres in Uganda are in infant stages of a captive breeding programme.

He said curbing illegal wildlife trafficking was a big challenge given the limited awareness of wildlife crimes among law enforcement agencies and inadequate identification of wildlife specimens by entry and exit points.

However, there is evidence of failures in detecting smuggled wildlife. A consignment of 128 turtles destined for Philipines was impounded at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport last year. It was declared as carrying turtle shells and was established that it originated from Uganda and had passed check points at Entebbe airport.

Between 1989-2000, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) reported over 7000 seizures of illegal elephant ivory worldwide amounting to 200 tonnes of ivory. There have been several seizures from this country including over 3.3 tonnes of ivory that passed through Malaba border point.

The facilitation of these contraband transactions involves fraudulent preparation of shopping documents by forwarding and clearing agencies supported by corrupt government officials and shipping companies.

"If left unchecked, the trade will result in significant negative impacts on Africa's wild fauna and flora which plays an important role in economic development of our countries," said Dan Mr Alio, the Field Officer, Lusaka Agreement Task Force.

Mr Alio says the extent of illegal trade is difficult to assess due to its illicit nature though trafficking in wildlife species has been established to be the third largest contraband business worth $10-20billion annually.

The driving force is an availability of both domestic and international markets, coupled with high rewards against low risks of detection and lenient punishment.

The workshop enabled different law enforcement institutions to interact and share information and experiences to support conservation and cooperate in fighting wildlife crime at entry and exits points.

One participant whosaid had helped to raise four baby gorillas which were intercepted enroute to Cameroon through Nigeria to a Malaysia zoo.

It consigned had been cleared at US$1.6m. On the black market, a spider goes for $5 and in Kenya a rhinoceros horn is said to cost KShs150 yet when the culprits are apprehended, they are liable to a fine of KShs10,000(UShs238,000).

Participants also raised the issues of the lack of proper mechanisms at the check points, making it hard to detect illegal wildlife trafficking as there are no wildlife authorities at boarders.

"It is hard to get a baby gorilla without killing its entire family. It's still harder to get a baby chimpanzee without killing its mother," the participant said.

In Serengeti ecosystem alone, it is estimated that close to 160,000 animals are illegally harvested every year while in central Africa 1-5 million metric tonnes of bush meat is being exported annually to Europe.

In Frankfurt, an assortment of wild life from Kenya which included 68 snakes, 12 terrapins, 71 spiders, 187scorpions were seized last month. If left unchecked, the plunder for profits of wildlife is a threat to endangered and rare species and could cost the country it's natural bio- diversity endowment.