Mekong - U.S. Partnership
On October 16, 15 forest rangers from Thailand and Cambodia received in-depth training on WildScan, a new species identification and response application to combat wildlife trafficking now available for free on Android devices. The training was part of the Protected-area Operational and Tactical Enforcement Conservation Training (PROTECT) Team Leaders Course.
Participants will pass on to their respective teams the valuable skills they gained at the training for identifying endangered species using WildScan’s species library and identification wizard. The participating rangers are on the front lines of the war on wildlife trafficking, often in remote areas where traditional, large and cumbersome species identification books are difficult to use. WildScan allows quick and easy identification in a portable format.
The app’s reporting function also allows the rangers to store multiple detailed reports while on patrol and then submit them to relevant law enforcement agencies. WildScan was produced by Freeland as part of the USAID-funded Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking (ARREST) Program. Freeland has already begun working with USAID ARREST partners in the region to translate WildScan into local languages.
Learn more about WildScan and download the application here.
Source: USAID/RDMA Regional Environment Office Weekly Update
