Egypt seeks to establish a wildlife sanctuary for endangered species

Egypt’s Environment and Water Bodies police, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and the Ministry of State for Environment Affairs, are studying the prospect of establishing a wildlife sanctuary in Egypt. The mission of this sanctuary would be to give wild animals that are seized an area to live and to be protected for the rest of their lives, which would help reduce wildlife smuggling and trafficking.

The Egyptian Society of Animal Friends released an official statement about wildlife trade in Egypt, which said this illegal trade costs Egypt nearly EGP 15 billion (about US$2.5 billion as reported by the Egyptian newspaper Almasry Alyoum).

An official source at the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation confirmed that the government will announce new operational procedures that should reduce wild animal smuggling and illegal wildlife trade. In addition, the Department of Wildlife Conservation has finished setting up new wildlife offices at Egyptian border crossings.

The Egyptian Society of Animal Friends is requesting the government to enforce and strengthen animal welfare laws and to focus on educational awareness programs.