Falco 27 - International Wildlife Consultants Ltd.

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News and AnnouncementsMinistry bans treatment of illegallyimported falcons(15/11/2005, The Emirates News Agency, WAM)Saeed Mohammed Al Raqbani, Minister of Agricultureand Fisheries issued a decision here (UAE) yesterdaybanning the treatment illegally imported falconsat veterinary clinics in the country. “With effectfrom today, falcons whose owners will not providedocuments proving legal entry of their falcons into thecountry will not be treated at Veterinary clinics”, saidthe decision. Clinics or vets who will not abide by thedecision will face legal action, the decision added. Themove is a precautionary measure to ward off the threatof bird flu.The main objective of the meeting was to discus illicittrade in falcons by identifying the main problems incontrolling the trade in falcons for falconry by studyingseizures that have been made in member countriesterritories since 2000 in order to identify smugglingmethods, routes, means of transport, characteristics ofthe illicit trade and, if possible, the identities of thoseinvolved. The meeting also prepared relevant guidanceto assist Parties in combating illicit trade. The analysisof the information will also be shared with ICPO-Interpol and the World Customs Organization.Aside from an analysis of the information,participants had been encouraged after the meeting totake note of illicit trade affecting their territories andto commit to making follow-up investigations, whereappropriate. In the meeting, participants established anetwork of contacts among task force members for therapid exchange of information regarding future seizuresof illicitly-traded falcons and for the coordination ofinvestigations. They also agreed undertake to act aslinks between the Task Force and other Parties and non-Parties affected by illicit trade in falcons, since it willnot be possible to invite all such States to the meeting.Participants consequently, agreed upon some form ofgeographical or sub-regional representation to providecoverage for networking.The meeting was attended by the CITES ManagementAuthorities or other competent authorities of Canada,China, India, Kuwait, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,Mongolia, the Russian Federation and the UnitedKingdom. The first day of the meeting inauguratedby H.E. Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General ,Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi followed by remarkspresented by Jonathan G. Barzdo, Chief, ConventionSupport Unit, CITES Secretariat. Mr. John M.Sellar, Anti-smuggling, Fraud and Organized Crime,CITES Secretariat, spoke on “The history of CITESEnforcement Task Forces and a description of the aimsof the Falcon Enforcement Task Force”, in additionthe CITES authorities of the United Arab Emirateswill present an “Introduction to the history of falconryand current trade in falcons for falconry”, includingan explanation of the falcon ‘passport’ scheme. Theillegal trade in wildlife, with an emphasis on falcons,will be also highlighted by the CITES Secretariat.UAE hosting CITES Falcon Enforcement TaskForceInformation from http://www.uaefalconer.comThe United Arab Emirates hosted the CITES(Convention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Wild Fauna and Flora) Falcon EnforcementTask Force which been held in Al Raha Beach Hotel inAbu Dhabi from 21st to 23rd November 2005.22Country reports, providing details of illegal tradein falcons and seizure information since 2000were presented in the second day; this included Canada,China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, RussianFederation, United Arab Emirates and United Kingdomof Great Britain and Northern Ireland. These country’sreports, reviewed in the afternoon sessions, to identifyillegal harvest methods, smuggling routes, smugglingtechniques (forms of transport, concealment techniques,types of couriers, etc. modus operandi associated with
dealers, places associated with dealers, transactions, etc.,final destinations and markets, prices paid (poacher tofinal consumer) and individuals known to be involved.On Wednesday, participants collated information fromprevious days and prepare summaries of each of theeight subject areas. They will also discuss how thisinformation can best be disseminated and used to aidnational law enforcement, target those involved, combatillegal harvest of falcons, increase border controls andcombat smuggling, combat illegal trade (in countries oforigin, transit and destination) Draft relevant Alert orother bulletin prepared where distribution and recipientswill be agreed. They will also discuss whether there ispotential to conduct immediate follow-up on any of theseizures or cases and decide how this can be achieved,in addition they will review draft identification materialprepared by Canadian Wildlife Service.Strategy for future exchanges of information,cooperation and coordination of investigations alsodisused and focal points for countries/agencies and bestmeans of communication will be agreed. They will alsodecide upon role of other relevant organizations andnon-governmental organizations. Finally, participantsalso identified any further actions that require to betaken to improve implementation of the Conventionregarding the trade in falcons for falconry and ineliminating illicit trade in these speciesAvian influenza in falcons: Saudi ArabiaInformation from a ProMED-mail posthttp://www.promedmail.org.ProMED-mail is a program of the International Society forInfectious Diseases http://www.isid.org.This information provides the background to thedecision of the Saudi authorities to carry out tests inthe involved falcon centre in Riyadh and, subsequentto obtaining several positive H5 results, to cull (all?)37 falcons therein.These unofficial but reliable data should be brought tothe attention of all those involved in the maintenance,handling and healthcare of falcons and other captive birdsin the Middle East and elsewhere. Hopefully, it will helpin enhancing the alertness of authorities responsible forcontrol upon international trade in avian species, withspecial attention to captive birds. Earlier H5N1incidents related to such trade have been recorded inTaiwan, Belgium, the UK and probably elsewhere.Saker Falcon in Southeast Europe: Researchand Conservation.A workshop meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria from 27th to28th February 2006.A workshop meeting hosted by the Central Laboratoryof General Ecology, Bulgarian Academy of Scienceswas attended by delegates from several countries insoutheast Europe (including Croatia, Macedonia,Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine and Turkey).The meeting was funded by the EAD as part of aproject to survey Saker Falcons in Bulgaria (see p. 4 ofthis issue for more detalis).One of the intended outcomes of this meeting was todevelop co-operation and greater understanding amongresearchers studying Saker Falcons both in Europeand elsewhere. To further this objective a web forumis to be established in order to develop a network ofresearchers across the region of SE Europe, which willenable the co-ordination of studies and better promotefunding opportunities for Saker studies.The 1st confirmed case of avian influenza subtypeH5N1 in Saudi Arabia (earlier than January 2006,probably in December 2005) involved a Saker Falcon(Falco cherrug) that had been in the country for the pasttwo years. It had a history of anorexia, for two days,and passing green faeces. The falcon died overnight. Afew days later, it was confirmed that the falcon had diedof avian influenza and had tested positive for H5N1.The virus might have been introduced from illegallyimported falcons from China and Mongolia early in theseason. The authorities were updated at a later date.23
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