On 17th August 2022, ASEANAPOL Secretariat received a visit by Ms. Sai Narayanasamy from International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). She was warmly welcomed by the Executive Director of ASEANAPOL Secretariat, Pol. Brig. Gen. Zaw Lin Tun, Director for Plans and Programmes, Supt. Tang Yik Tung, Head of Administrative and Technical Staffs, Supt. Azrul Hisham bin Mohd Shaffei, and officers of the Secretariat.
The IFAW is a global non-profit organization (NGO) which is caring animals and their welfare whether wildlife, or home pets in impoverished community to thrive together in and around human environment. IFAW has experts and staffs working in more than 40 countries around the world to rescue, rehabilitate, and preserve endangered animal’s species, as well as restore and protect their natural habitats.
Ms. Sai introduced the mission of IFAW that included IFAW is helping law enforcement to take care of animals rescued from wildlife trafficking by implementing the procedures and best practices that they need to properly care for rescued animals. It is vital that resources needed by frontline officers are provided to enable them to adequately deal with live animal seizures, which can present unique challenges in terms of biosafety, public safety, and animal welfare.
She highlighted one of their initiatives, IFAW conducts training for frontline officers and government officials involved in live animal seizures and confiscations from wildlife trafficking that includes smuggling for the exotic pet business, as well as for their body parts. IFAW aims to help law enforcement officials in the region to implement the procedures needed in reducing health and safety risks, preserve evidence integrity, and minimize animal lethality associated with live seizures.
IFAW sees a collaboration with ASEANAPOL to develop its capacity in caring for and handling wildlife as an incredible opportunity to protect endangered species while increasing the standard of care provided to animals seized in trade. IFAW is open to working closely with ASEANAPOL to develop and provide other resources such as species-specific guidelines, e-learning opportunities, and access to confiscation advisory networks to ensure the common goal of ASEANAPOL and IFAW for the protection of wildlife is attained.
ASEANAPOL Secretariat acknowledged IFAW’s initiatives in the area of wildlife trafficking that will support to enhance the capability of frontline officers and requested to share detailed information subjected to conduct the training for ASEANAPOL member countries and proposed to look into an opportunity for regional training workshop on animal welfare for frontline officers to be held in this region. ASEANAPOL Secretariat also seek IFAW’s desire to initiate wildlife crime awareness campaign and to explore the role of police under the umbrella of preventive measures such as education and awareness rising.
The meeting was fruitfully concluded at 12.30 PM and both sides noted to provide needful information in timely manner and look forward to build a good working relationship in future.