Piles Upon Piles of Snares and Traps (5-minute Video)

Fred Kiiza, Chief Warden of Murchison Falls Conservation Area, Uganda's largest protected area, explains the poaching challenges his team faces and the role of the Joint Operations Command Centre (JOC) in combating wildlife crime.

Wire snare poaching remains the primary threat, with Uganda Kob as the main target species, followed by buffalo and giraffe. The snares are non-selective and frequently catch untargeted animals, including lions.

Kiiza is grateful for the support of stakeholders, particularly Bruce Martin and his team at Lake Albert Safaris, in conservation efforts at both Murchison Falls and Kabwoya Wildlife Reserve.

The JOC houses law enforcement operations, intelligence, investigation, and prosecution departments, processing suspects from arrest through to court.

The scale of the problem is clear: wire snares confiscated in just six months fill the facility. Motorcycles seized from bushmeat traffickers sit alongside the evidence.