Ghana-India partnership on pangolins could spur action on trade in endangered species

The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), with support from India’s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, led a two-day capacity-building workshop in Accra last month on safeguarding pangolins.

Pangolins are the single most trafficked mammals on Earth. One study estimates that between 2014 and 2021 up to 8.5 million had been removed from the wild in West and Central Africa and traded illegally.

They are sold to customers, particularly in the Far East, who value them for their scales, believed to have curative properties, who place high value on their meat (it is considered a delicacy), or who keep them as exotic pets. Some people believe they are harbingers of good luck or that they bring rain.

There are eight species of pangolin globally, four of them native to Africa. They also live in the wild in Asia. Three species – the Chinese, the Philippine and the Sunda pangolin – are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The pangolin workshop, which took place from 4-5 November, was organised with active support from the University of Ghana and the Ghana Wildlife Society and was a major milestone in international collaborations to protect pangolins and combat the illegal trade in wildlife.

The workshop, on the theme of “Building Entrusted Networks and Strengthening Law Enforcement with a Prime Focus on Safeguarding Pangolins”, was part of a project funded by the Convention on Biological Diversity under the Bio-Bridge Initiative.

That project, centred on developing networks and strengthening law enforcement in south Asia and West Africa with a prime focus on safeguarding pangolins, was awarded to Mukesh Thakur of ZSI. It was one of 16 projects selected from among 130 proposals worldwide, and aims to enhance wildlife forensic capabilities, strengthen law-enforcement efforts and fight illegal trading in wildlife by building collaboration between India and Ghana.

Link local with global expertise

The University of Ghana (UoG) played a crucial role in organising the workshop in partnership with ZSI, ensuring the seamless integration of local expertise. Professor Erasmus Owusu, a conservation biologist in the Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science at UoG, was the convenor of the workshop in Ghana.

He expressed his delight that Ghana was able to host the workshop, which he described as important.

“It represents a significant opportunity to advance our capabilities in wildlife forensics and create a stronger, more unified approach to wildlife conservation,” Professor Owusu said.

The workshop drew 30 participants from a wide range of areas of expertise, including genetics, microbiology, forensic science and wildlife conservation. They included representatives of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Wildlife Society.

Over two days, they took part in lectures, hands-on practical sessions and a panel discussion aimed at strengthening wildlife crime investigation techniques.

Another member of the visiting Indian team, Bheem Dutt Joshi of ZSI, said: “This workshop allows us to share scientific expertise and hands-on skills to build lasting capacities in wildlife forensics, which will help us fight illegal wildlife trade more effectively.”

Crime prevention

Joseph Boakye, executive director of the Wildlife Division of Ghana’s Forestry Commission, emphasised the importance of the ZSI/UoG initiative.

“It has empowered us with critical skills to protect endangered species such as pangolins,” Dr Boakye said. “By joining forces with ZSI and international experts, we are taking a significant step towards strengthening wildlife law enforcement.”

Among the other speakers at the workshop was Umaru Farouk Dubiure, operations director of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission. Also taking part remotely were Hemant Joshi, associate professor at the College of Veterinary and Animal Science in Udaipur, India; Malay Shukla, assistant professor at the National Forensic Sciences University in India; Puneet Pandey, senior researcher art Seoul National University in South Korea; and Neha Singh, the programme officer of the Wildlife Trust of India.

Dhriti Banerjee, director of ZSI, rated the collaboration as a great success.

“This initiative between India and Ghana is a shining example of the cross-border efforts needed to combat illegal wildlife trade,” Dr Banerjee said. “I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to Professor Erasmus Owusu and his team for their invaluable support in hosting this event, and to Dr Mukesh Thakur and his team for their dedication to organising such a significant international workshop.

“Together, we are paving the way for stronger forensic capabilities and more effective conservation strategies across regions.”

The organisers believe the workshop will inspire further development of wildlife forensic capabilities at the University of Ghana and foster research and collaboration in wildlife crime prevention, enabling law-enforcement agencies and scientists to work together to fight illegal trading in wildlife.

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