US embassy cable - 05NDJAMENA877

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000877 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR AF/C, AF/EPS AND OES/ENV LEE 
PLEASE ALSO PASS TO FWS AT DEPT. INTERIOR 
ADDIS FOR REO 
ABIDJAN ALSO FOR WARP REO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV, EAID, CD, Environment 
SUBJECT: WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING AND POACHING PATTERNS IN CHAD 
 
 
1.  Begin Summary.  Recent evidence of wildlife traf-ficking in Chad 
two distinct fronts: Gulf State Arab hunters/falconers engaging in sp 
in northern Chad and Sudanese poachers complicit with poor Chadian hu 
south-central regions.  The combined toll of these activities on Chad 
remaining mammal populations is very worrying, as is the collusion of 
government officials with poachers.  End Summary. 
 
2.  REO reviewed dozens of press items together with substantial docu 
from APROCOFF, a local university-based NGO active in anti-poaching e 
The reports are clear: wildlife trafficking networks show considerabl 
sophistication in transporting Chadian wildlife to markets in North A 
the Mideast and pose a major long-term threat to Chad's biodiversity. 
 
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Saudi Princes, All Terrain Vehicles and Visas for Falconers 
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3.   There is a well-established network of Arab hunters who practice 
forms of hunting in Chad.  Hunters from as far away as Saudi Arabia a 
United Arab Emirates arrive in unscheduled charter planes, obtain irr 
airport visas on arrival, and move about in all-terrain vehicles in t 
northern regions.  Hunters often use vehicles to chase antelope to ex 
before bagging them.  Alternatively, Saudi visitors use imported falc 
target bustards (endangered, large birds of the genus Ardeotis) in or 
export their dried, uncured skins, which are reputed to have aphrodis 
properties. 
 
4. There is widespread local collusion with Arab hunters.  Deep pock 
buy local villagers' and businessmen's willingness to provide support 
vehicles.  A dubious Arab "charity NGO" was even found involved in fa 
hunting operations and transport in late 2004.  In another case, a Sa 
allegedly handed over ten million CFA (USD 20,000) for access to an " 
hunting zone and vehicle support.  The ease with which wealthy foreig 
visas at the airport shows the collusion of Chadian customs and secur 
officials.  APROCOFF and local press sources also report on recent ca 
hunters trying to transport live gazelles to Libya, further implicati 
authorities in trafficking activities.  Names of inluential Chadian o 
involved in facilitating this recurrent poaching have appeared in APR 
releases but no sanctions have yet occurred and the practice continue 
 
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Sudanese Poachers, Automatic Weapons and Local Intermediaries 
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5.  South-central Chad, in particular the Zakouma National Park and i 
zone, is a key refuge for elephants in Chad.  It is this area that is 
by well-armed Sudanese hunters, who pay local Chadian villagers to hu 
elephants in sophisticated poaching networks.  Chadian nomads serve a 
intermediaries, transporting tusks to the Sudanese border by horsebac 
camelback.  The town of Geneina in west-central Sudan is thought to b 
the principal importation points where poached ivory is taken, before 
buyers in N. Africa and the Gulf region. 
 
6.  Park wardens exercise some control within Zakouma itself, but not 
vast buffer zone beyond it.  Even within the park, however, conflicts 
poachers have resulted in the deaths of several Chadian park wardens. 
temptation of poaching dividends for local populations should not be 
underestimated given the few cash-generating alternatives that exist. 
Tourism is not well-developed or as lucrative as it could potentially 
principally because of security concerns and poor road/air access to 
 
7.  Comment:  REO suggests two areas of opportunity for the USG to ha 
impact on reducing poaching activities in Chad.  Diplomatic pressure 
brought to bear on the Presidency, Ministry of Environment, airport a 
authorities, when specific cases come to light.  This would serve bot 
the GOC that donors are concerned with the situation, and to remind t 
Chad's obligations under international conventions that protect endan 
migratory species.  As a complement to this, prior USG material suppo 
(including anti-poaching communications equipment and surveillance tr 
should be renewed.  REO and AmEmbassy/Chad intend to pursue areas whe 
strategic USG support could give conservationists the upper hand in p 
remaining wildlife populations. 
 
WALL 
 
 
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