The Department of National Parks and Wildlife says there has been a 50% reduction of wildlife crimes including the confiscation of illegal items such as ivory.

Director of National Parks Brighton Kumchedwa made the revelation when giving an outlook of wildlife crimes in the first half of the year.

“The number of arrests has gone down by 18% and when we look at the percentage of people who enter our protected areas for purposes of tree cutting and hunting has also reduced by 8%.”

Kumchedwa attributed the decline in wildlife crimes and arrests to the said, to the stiff penalties imposed on perpetrators.

“Wildlife criminals are now afraid of the stiff penalties given by the courts.”