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HRH DUKE OF GLOUCESTER HIGHLIGHTS MALAWI’S EFFORTS TO FIGHT WILDLIFE CRIME

Last week, HRH the Duke of Gloucester flew from the UK to Malawi for a 4-day official visit, with half of his packed itinerary dedicated to wildlife. One of the objectives of the visit was to highlight Malawiโ€™s fight to combat illegal wildlife trade. As founding patron of local charity, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, the Duke […]

Last week, HRH the Duke of Gloucester flew from the UK to Malawi for a 4-day official visit, with half of his packed itinerary dedicated to wildlife. One of the objectives of the visit was to highlight Malawiโ€™s fight to combat illegal wildlife trade. As founding patron of local charity, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, the Duke has been a keen advocate for conservation in Malawi for many years.

His Royal Highness first visited the Lilongwe Wildlife Trust in 2008 just as their first project – the Lilongwe Wildlife Centre, Malawiโ€™s only sanctuary – had opened. Since then, over 800 wild animals have been rehabilitated, the majority of which were released back into the wild.

The Trustโ€™s remit has since grown in response to the emerging conservation challenges of the past decade, one being the need to combat serious wildlife crime. Malawi was recently identified as Southern Africaโ€™s principal transit hub for illegal wildlife traffickers, in large part due to poor law enforcement and weak deterrent legislation. Wildlife poaching and trafficking at the time were not treated as serious crimes and those convicted of a wildlife crime could expect an average sentence of just $40. Key initiatives led by the Trust include the passing of new wildlife legislation as well as supporting the governmentโ€™s first Wildlife Crime Investigations Unit, the latter funded by the British Government. 125 traffickers were jailed in 2017 and custodial sentences of up to 18 years are now being passed by the courts.

The Dukeโ€™s wildlife itinerary, led by the British High Commissioner, H.E. Holly Tett, and Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, included:
– A high-level briefing on illegal wildlife trade at the British High Commissionerโ€™s Residence
– Guest of honour at Lilongwe Wildlife Trustโ€™s 10th anniversary celebrations
– Dinner at State House with H.E. Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika, President of the Republic of Malawi.
– A visit to Liwonde National Park to see the work of African Parks which included a demonstration by rangers (supported by the British Government), and the opportunity to see the newly introduced lions and meet Lilongwe Wildlife Trustโ€™s Wildlife Emergency Response Unit.

The Malawi Parliamentary Conservation Caucus (MPCC) – a bi-partisan membership group of MPโ€™s that have been driving conservation issues to the top of the political agenda – also played an active role in the Royal Visit.

Re-produced from https://www.royal.uk/duke-gloucester-highlights-malawi%E2%80%99s-efforts-fight-wildlife-crime

IN PICTURES

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The briefing on illegal wildlife trade at the British High Commissionerโ€™s Residence. From left to right (back): Hons Mwale, Kadzumira and Mkungula, MPs from the Malawi Parliamentary Conservation Caucus (MPCC), Jonathan Vaughan, CEO of Lilongwe Wildlife Trust. From left to right (front): HE Holly Tett, British High Commissioner, Hon Mussa, Minister of Tourism, Brighton Kumchedwa, Director of National Parks & Wildlife
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The Duke arrives to meet staff at Lilongwe Wildlife Trustโ€™s 10th anniversary celebrations
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The Duke speaks to HE Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika, State President of Malawi
Starting the Liwonde trip. Left to right (back): Simon Pitt, Operations Director, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust, Hons Adams, Nyirenda & Chilenga (members of the MPCC). Left to right (front): HE Holly Tett, British High Commissioner, Craig Reid, African Parks Manager, HRH Duke of Gloucester, Brighton Kumchedwa, Director of Dept of National Parks and Wildlife, Patricio Ndadzela, African Parks Country Manager, Dr Amanda Salb, Veterinarian, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust.
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Watching African Parksโ€™ rangers in action. The British Army will be coming to Malawi next month to start training.
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The Duke surveys the traps and snares that have been confiscated in the park
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The lions in their enclosure ready for release. They are the first lions to be re-introduced into Liwonde under African Parksโ€™ management programme.