Harmonise Wildlife protection regulation EAC told

BY SAMUEL NABWIISO 

Advocators for protection of wildlife animals in East Africa have asked the six member states of East African Community to harmonise wildlife regulations to protect animals from spot hunters.

Raphael Omondi, the Education and Outreach liaison office at World Animal Protection (WAP) organization said many endangered animal species have been killed by tourists who enter the parks for spot hunting, especially in Tanzania.

Edith Kasiime the WAP Uganda country representative addressing tour operator at Hotel Africana 

“The world life protection laws in the region have loopholes which need to be harmonized in Kenya and Uganda. Spot hunting is criminalized especially on endangered species, but in Tanzania many tourists pay dollars and the Authorities allow the visitors to kill Animals in the name of spot hunting,” Omond said during an engagement meeting between WAP and tour operators in Uganda at Hotel Africana

Some of the endangered species that have been killed through spot hunting include Lions, elephants, among other endangered species.

Killing of such animals contradicts with international legal instruments such as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as the Washington Convention, which is a multilateral treaty to protect endangered plants and animals.

Most United Nation members states are signatory to the treaty, however, some member states violate it by legalizing the killing of animals in protected areas as way of raising money to fund government programs.

For instance, to spot hunt a lion, according to Omondi, the hunter pays about US$500, 0000 per spot.

Executive Director Association of Uganda Tour Operators, Gloria Tumwesigye,ption(M)

At the same event, WAP Uganda country representative Edith Kasiime challenged Tour Operators to ensure that their clients respect the rights of wild animals.

She noted that on many occasions tourists are violating the rights of animals through taking selfies with the animals.

“Taking a selfie with an animal should follow the international regulations; some of the actions the tourist do towards the animals lead to animals becoming wild thus attacking tourists in the due course,” she told tour operators.

Responding to the WAP official, the Executive Director Association of Uganda Tour Operators, Gloria Tumwesigye, said they are going to carry out advocacy programs with in their members to ensure that tourists abide with international standards, especially when it comes to taking pictures with wild animals in National parks.