USAID promotes action on wildlife conservation in Ethiopia

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), African Parks (Ethiopia PLC), and the Italian Development Cooperation, in collaboration with the Ethiopian Wildlife Association (EWA), and the Wildlife Conservation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, hosted a gathering of key leaders on Monday, December 4, 2006 to discuss ways to halt the illegal practice of capturing, holding, and selling wildlife in Ethiopia.  The group also addressed the lack of adequate facilities, systems, and guidelines to properly care for wild animals already captured.

H.E. Ato Ahmed Nasser, State Minister for Natural Resources of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Assefa Mebrate, of the Ethiopian Wildlife Authority and Ambassador Yamamoto officially opened the consultative meeting, held at the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute in Addis Ababa.  The gathering included federal and regional government representatives, members of the diplomatic corps, professional societies and associations, international non governmental organizations, the private sector, academic and research institutions, and wildlife experts.

An increasing number of wild animals – both young and adult – have been taken illegally from the wild, placed in captivity, and inadequately cared for.  Many wild animals currently being held in captivity in Ethiopia are suffering and in many cases, dying. 

While EWA and the Ethiopian government have been working with partners on this initiative for several months, this is the first time that such a broad cross-section of leaders have come together to address how to manage the quickly expanding captive wild animal population in Ethiopia. 

“Clearly, the illegal practice of removing cheetahs, lions, and other wild animals from the wild must be stopped,” Dr. Assefa Mebrate, EWA President, said.  “With renewed commitment and resources from ourselves and our partners, together we can help preserve some of Ethiopia’s most precious natural resources – its animals.”

Wildlife experts from Namibia and South Africa were present to share their own experience in managing captive wild animals as part of the day-long event.  EWA and its partners will use the experience of other countries to help shape Ethiopia’s policy, strategy, and legal mechanisms for captive wild animal management.