As conservation leaders met to discuss the fate of endangered species at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora 17th Conference of the Parties in South Africa, the USAID Reducing Opportunities for Unlawful Transport of Endangered Species (ROUTES) Partnership conducted trainings with airport personnel on the challenges facing the transport sector for wildlife trafficking. In Vietnam, the training was held at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on September 30th. The second training was with O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. These airports are linked by the smuggling of rhino horn from the major source to the major consumer nation. During the trainings, the 176 airport and airline personnel discussed the global wildlife trade and the potential risks to transport/logistics providers; techniques used by traffickers for smuggling wildlife through aviation transport; and on best practices to respond and report trafficked wildlife upon detection. The training focused on key species threatened by illegal trade, such as elephants, rhinos, and pangolins. The Vietnamese training was organized by government partners, including the Central Committee for Propaganda and Education and the Central Party Business Sector, demonstrating government support for tackling wildlife trafficking. These trainings, conducted by TRAFFIC and Freeland with support from the International Air Transport Association under the ROUTES Partnership, highlight the growing commitment by the transport sector to take action on illegal wildlife trafficking.
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