Saudi Gazette report

JEDDAH — The Saudi Wildlife Authority joined hands with the International Fund for Animal Welfare to provide the necessary knowledge and skills to the customs officers and other concerned authorities in the Kingdom in combating the illegal animal trade.

A joint training program held here is expected to help identify wildlife species that are common in trade in the region and strengthen awareness about the regulations and protocols under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which the Kingdom signed in 1996.

The training took place from June 17 to 20 June at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Jeddah.

The training was planned to host around 50 participants coming from different sectors including the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, the Ministry of Commerce and Investment, the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs, the General Customs Authority, Border Guards and the Saudi Wildlife Authority.

This capacity building training will help to protect the wildlife from illegal trade across the borders and will support animal welfare.

Animals suffer a lot in-transit and are sometimes traumatized due to the poor conditions they are put in on route.