We join the rest of the world to celebrate World Pangolin Day. Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal on earth. Peaceful as they are, pangolins are heartlessly murdered for their meat and scales which are on high demand in China and other Asian countries where they are without proof believed to be medicinal. Despite the protection of pangolins by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) which listed them as one of the most endangered animals hence banning all forms of commercial trade in pangolins, the illegal trade has continued to take place. Over 200,000 pangolins are killed every year. Pangolins are hence being pushed into extinction. Let’s join hands to protect the pangolins.

The Uganda Wildlife Authority has commissioned a new canine unit at Karuma Wildlife Reserve.This will go a long way in improving investigations of wildlife cases in Uganda. This is another step to the right direction.

There were three elephants of different ages that were brutally murdered to obtain this ivory. The ivory was seized in northern Uganda. It must have been on its way to one of the Asian countries. The lives that were lost can not be got back. The pain occasioned onto the elephant families where the deceased elephants were members can not be explained. A human being that murders an elephant will not find it hard to commit similar offenses against fellow humans. The loss occasioned onto the African countries where the elephants lived is immense. The ecosystem where the elephants lived did not remain the same. These and many other reasons are why we need to raise our voices to protect lives of animals.