6 November 2013: The first international rhinoceros DNA sampling training workshop to enhance the world’s enforcement capacity to address rhinoceros poaching was hosted by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and the University of Pretoria’s Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL), in collaboration with the International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC).

The workshop brought together law enforcement officers from South African National Parks and each of the 11 African rhinoceros range States, as well as representatives from China, Thailand and Viet Nam.

Participants discussed the increased use of rhinoceros horn DNA sampling to combat wildlife crime, as well as the use of ICCWC tools and services to enhance their wildlife crime investigation capabilities. The workshop took place in Pretoria, South Africa, on 5-6 November 2013, with funding provided to ICCWC by the Netherlands.

ICCWC is a collaborative effort of the Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), INTERPOL, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Bank and the World Customs Organization (WCO) to bring coordinated support to the national wildlife law enforcement agencies, as well as to the sub-regional and regional networks that act in defense of natural resources. [CITES Press Release] [South Africa Press Release]