The Wildlife Crime Unit of the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police has been selected for the Clark R Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award 2016, for its work to combat organised wildlife trafficking within the trans-Himalayan region.
The prestigious award, presented by the US-based Animal Welfare Institute in coordination with Species Survival Network honours wildlife law enforcement champions across the globe. The CIB, along with eight other awardees, will be given the award on October 3, during the ongoing conference of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The wildlife crime unit established is dedicated to investigating serious national and transnational crimes and apprehending wildlife criminals evading justice.
In the year between January 2015 and February 2016, the CIB units conducted 28 operations linked to illegal trade in Asian big cats, in the far-western and mid-western regions of Nepal, arresting 33 people and seizing 15 tiger skins, nearly 122kg tiger bone, 12 leopard skins, 15kg leopard bone, and four teeth and two skins of clouded leopards.
“We are encouraged to do more to protect our wildlife from poaching,” said Silwal.
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