Wildlife declaration should mean tougher rules on owning big cats in the UAE

Experts think UAE signing international agreement could lead to tighter regulations in the country and greater focus on stopping Dubai airport from being used as a transit point between Africa and Asia.

DUBAI // An international declaration on halting the illegal wildlife trade signed by the UAE last week could help tighten rules over ownership of exotic and wild animals.

Experts believe the London Declaration on Wildlife Trade, ratified by 46 countries on February 13, could bring about tougher enforcement of existing rules on the local sale of big cats such as lions and cheetahs, as well as new rules prohibiting their ownership.

The declaration, which is not legally binding, was primarily focused on halting the trade in ivory, which is responsible for the death of up to 50,000 elephants across Africa every year.

However, the terms of the declaration also extend to poaching wild rare or endangered animals such as cheetahs and lions, which are often sold as pets in private auctions in the region.

The UAE issued a law in 2012 forbidding the import of big cats by private collectors, even with documentation, from Cites, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. However, there are currently no rules forbidding their ownership.

Dr Elsayed Mohammed, the Middle East regional director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare (Ifaw), believes that could change.

“I am sure that the Ministry of Environment will have considered the declaration in adopting new legislation over wildlife trade, or adopting procedures for strengthening the monitoring, or the implementation, of current rules.

“We expect the UAE will take immediate steps to put this declaration on the ground.”

Ifaw carried out a survey over four weeks early last year that found 796 local advertisements for animals such as Siberian and Bengal tigers, or lion cubs. Just 20 per cent of those adverts were for animals with Cites certification.

Dr Mohammed said Ifaw had been working with the ministry since then to strengthen enforcement of rules over the sale of animals.

“I think they are starting to monitor the internet for evidence of wildlife trade,” he said. “I heard about these steps made by the ministry before this declaration.

“I think the ministry will make more and more effort as it is now a global issue.”

Dr Sabir bin Muzaffar, an assistant professor in wildlife ecology and disease biology at UAE University, said enforcement was a key issue.

“The regulations surrounding the entry of these animals are clearly noted in Cites, but they still emerge in places where they shouldn’t be,” he said.

“So, definitely, there’s an implementation challenge here. You can go to a lot of websites and find many animals for sale.

“These people need to be tracked down. Just removing an advert is not enough. Whoever is involved in this must be brought to account. Clearly these people are not supported by the UAE government, but it still seems to happen.”

Another key plank in the declaration last week was in establishing cross-border cooperation in halting the export, transit or import of animal products – ivory or rhino horn – which are sought after by groups in East Asia.

The UAE made two huge seizures last year. In November, Dubai Customs intercepted a shipment of half a tonne of ivory. In May, 259 pieces of ivory were found being shipped through Dubai to an unspecified Asian country, despite being disguised as furniture.

Ifaw launched an awareness campaign with Dubai International Airport in May last year over the import of ivory.

Dr Mohammed praised the efforts of customs authorities. “Ivory is not imported into, or consumed, in the UAE,” he said.

“However, the UAE is a transport hub. When the ivory comes from Africa, and goes to East Asia, it often passes through here. The UAE has become, geographically, part of the supply chain.

“The country has done well until now in confiscating a number of shipments. We expect that this trade will only stop when the poaching stops in Africa, and the poaching will only stop in Africa when the demand stops in China.

“The UAE is in the middle and it can only affect the trade by stopping shipments when it finds them.”