Sudan wildlife forces foil leopard skin smuggling attempt
February 15, 2025 (BASANDA) – The Wildlife Protection Forces, affiliated with the Ministry of Interior, announced on Saturday that they had thwarted an attempt to smuggle leopard skins on Sudan’s eastern border with Ethiopia.
The 1986 Federal Hunting Protection and National Parks Act prohibits the hunting of leopards or the trade of their parts.
In a statement, the Wildlife Protection Forces said that “forces from the Taya Basanda Gallabat Reserve, affiliated with the Wildlife Protection, managed to thwart a smuggling attempt of a shipment of leopard skins on the country’s eastern border.”
The statement indicated that these forces had received information about a group active in cross-border smuggling of wildlife parts. They subsequently monitored the movements and activities of the group’s members to gather details about the shipment intended for smuggling.
It mentioned that the forces set up an ambush at the “Kenina” checkpoint, located after the Gallabat checkpoint, where they seized 29 leopard skins from the group’s vehicle. Other items, including potatoes, honey, charcoal, and talh firewood, were also found, intended to conceal the smuggling operation.
Sudanese take pride in wearing shoes made from leopard skin, especially the “markoub,” despite it being banned by law. It is reportedly sold secretly for amounts ranging from $700 to $1,000.
The Wildlife Protection Forces stated that they seized the exhibits and arrested the suspect, against whom charges were filed at the Gallabat police station for violating four articles of the 1986 Federal Hunting Protection and National Parks Act.
The Assistant Director-General of the Wildlife Protection Forces, Police Major General Adel Mohamed, commented on the thwarted smuggling, calling it “an achievement added to the accomplishments of the Wildlife Protection Forces, which work to protect national resources at the country level.”
In turn, the director of the Taya Basanda Gallabat Reserve forces stated that they are working to protect natural resources and wildlife in coordination with other regular forces present in the border area.
He noted that this achievement is the first of its kind in the recent period, stressing that the reserve’s forces are on high alert to apprehend all lawbreakers and bring them to justice.