In July, Center for Environment, Forest Conservation and Research [CENFOR Liberia] hosted a training workshop in Zwedru for wildlife crime law enforcement officers. This workshop was a major step forward in enhancing parrot rescue operations and fighting illegal wildlife trade.
During the workshop Dr. Steven Janssen — WPT’s Wild Parrot Rescue Coordinator — provided hands-on training on first response care for rescued parrots. Steven’s training covered essential topics such as initial rescue steps, triage, health assessments, basic first aid, safe transport, cage design, and proper parrot handling. Col. Edward Appleton from the Forestry Development Authority delivered an in-depth presentation on Liberian wildlife crime law.
The workshop received an enthusiastic response; field agents, who often feel overwhelmed when faced with animal confiscations, gained the confidence and knowledge to handle these situations correctly and safely. The workshop clearly outlined their responsibilities, provided protocol guidelines, and established who to contact for further advice.
Feedback from the workshop highlighted the need for more capacity-building initiatives. Training like this is vital in boosting the confidence and motivation of field agents, empowering them to focus their efforts on confiscating and stopping illegal trade.
In 2023 there were two major seizures of Timneh Parrots near Zewrdu involving 73 parrots. The region is a significant centre of illegal trapping of parrots entering international trade and a high priority for action.
