Bloodhounds help fight poachers on Uganda border

The Democratic Republic of  Congo’s Virunga National Park employs a lean, mean team of crime-fighters to take on evil elephant poachers. A pack of bloodhounds - or Congohounds, as they are called in Virunga - are currently being trained to protect the national park's wildlife from poachers. Virunga National Park borders the Ishasha region of Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda where the work of UCF first started.

Read the full story at An Elephant Killing and the Hounds' First Operation

UCF Comment

 The threat to East African elephants through the illegal trade of ivory within the neighbouring country of the Democratic Republic of Congo has been emphasised in previous news stories. We have previously reported seizures of ivory being transported through Uganda from the DRC. The new initiatives being taken within the DRC are welcomed by UCF.

UCF has encouraged and supported co-operation between the rangers of the Uganda Wildlife Authority and those of DRC's Virunga National Park. As the national boundary is formed in part by rivers and lakes the UCF marine ranger station support has aided the fight against water borne activities across the frontiers. In addition in 2006 UCF's Mike Keigwin and Phil Woodcock travelled to the DRC to hand over bicycles and equipment to the Virunga rangers to aid them in their patrol work.

 Cross border poaching activities are not only seen in Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area but also further north in the Murchison Falls Protected Areas where increased threats are now being seen. UCF is now seeking funding to continue the fight against these illegal activities in MFPA and without the help of our donors and individual donations to our work this fight will not be won so please support the efforts of UCF and donate online now