The British High Commissioner to Zambia says it will continue to speak against illegal wildlife trade.
British High Commissioner to Zambia, Fergus Cochrane-Dyet says illegal wildlife trade is a threat to the country’s economy and tourism sector.

He says it is important to conserve wildlife because it is a source of pride for a nation, saying this is evidenced by the use of the buffalo by the Zambia Army.

He says wildlife promotes national identity, and if under mined will be depleted.

He adds that wildlife is a source of income for the nation because people travel from various countries across the world to come and have a look of various animals in the country.

And Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Tourism and Arts, Dr. Howard Sikwela laments that illegal wildlife has remained high in Zambia.

He says, Zambia has porous borders and therefore serves both as a source for main of the high value species needed in illegal wildlife trade, as well as a transit country used by trans-national organized crimes syndicate that operates across borders.

Dr. Sikwela says it is for this reason that the country should raise the bar in the way poaching is viewed because it is not just a threat to the depletion of wildlife but it has a negative impact on the tourism sector.

He says that it is for this reason the Zambian government is making strides in combating poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

He says animal species such as Lions, Elephants, and Pangolins are facing serious threats from greed individuals who exploit the animals for selfish gains.

Dr. Sikwela however says that estimates of the elephant population from the aerial survey that was conducted in 2015 indicated a stable and increasing population.

He adds that the Rhino population has increased in Zambia to 48 black Rhinos in the north Luangwa national park and 13 out of range white Rhino in the Mosi-oa-tunya and Lusaka south national park.

Dr Sikwela said this in a speech read on his behalf by the director national parks and wildlife in the ministry of tourism and Arts Paul Zyambo during the workshop on effective law enforcement in combating illegal wildlife trade in Zambia.