CITES-MIKE helps to reduce elephant poaching at Mole Park

The United Nations (UN) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna’s Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants (CITES-MIKE) programme has helped to curb the rampant killing of elephants and other wildlife at the Mole National Park in the Savannah Region, its Manager, Ali Mahama, has said.

Mr. Mahama noted that the support received from the CITES MIKE has for the past three years helped to preserve and protect wildlife and vegetation at the park, resulting in a significant facelift of the facility.

The Mole National Park occupying approximately 4,577 sq. km in size, holds the largest and most viable population of savanna elephants in the country. It received a €600,000 grant from the MIKE Secretariat to aid in the implementation of key law enforcement and park-based activities under a programme themed “Protecting Priority Populations of Elephants and other target species in Mole National Park-Ghana”.

Mr. Mahama said: “The grant disbursed over a period of three years has supported the enhancement of park’s capacity through the training of junior and senior staff. It also reactivated the dormant Wildlife Division Mobile Training Unit and provided refresher training for 75 Mole Park Rangers, in addition to providing specialized training for 17 law enforcement managers in the use of the SMART software, Geographic Information Systems and other important areas.

“The grant also supported in equipping and resourcing the park’s rangers with the supply of a Toyota 4×4 Landcruiser vehicle, Motorola communication handsets and repeater systems at Konkori and Hega, supply of field gear and the regular provision of food and other patrol inputs to support extended and special operations within the park,” he added.

The grant was also instrumental in repairing, servicing and maintaining the park’s fleet of vehicles and tractors to facilitate patrol deployment and rehabilitation works, he explained.

MIKE also supported the construction of two new sub-range outpost camps at identified poaching hotspots in the park, namely Grupe and Holomuni.

“The Wildlife Division of Forestry Commission is therefore very appreciative of these efforts to place Mole at the pedestal of protected area management in Africa,” he said.

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