Ouagadougou: A trafficker of carrion vultures was arrested by the Dori Environmental Services for allegedly poisoning approximately thirty carrion vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus) for export intended for mystical-commercial purposes.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the regional director of the Environment of the Sahel, Colonel Dramane Fogo of the Water and Forests, stated that the arrest followed a tip-off from local residents about a large-scale massacre of carrion vultures near the Dori slaughterhouse. The local community, recognizing the importance of wildlife protection, promptly alerted authorities upon discovering the dead birds under suspicious circumstances.

Upon receiving the information, agents from the Water and Forestry department visited the site to investigate. The regional director highlighted the essential role of community vigilance in combating environmental damage. At the scene, officers found twenty-two dead carrion vultures, which they suspect were poisoned for illegal trafficking purposes.

The investigation revealed that the suspect, a foreign national, has been detained and will face judicial proceedings. Forestry sources indicate that the accused confessed that the vultures were intended for export for mystical and commercial uses, an illicit practice contributing to the decline of these protected species.

Colonel Dramane Fogo emphasized the severe threat this type of trafficking poses to biodiversity. Scavenging vultures, significantly affected by illegal human activities in the sub-region, play a critical role in maintaining ecological balance. They help in environmental sanitation and disease prevention by feeding on carcasses and decaying matter, acting as "natural scavengers."

He noted that scavenging vultures are protected under international biodiversity conventions ratified by Burkina Faso, and their destruction is punishable by law. Colonel Fogo urged the public to collaborate with forestry services to report any acts of environmental destruction or trafficking of protected species.

He reiterated his department's commitment to combating environmental crimes to preserve biodiversity and ensure a healthy environment for future generations.