| Grantee | Wildlife Crime Prevention and Conserv Congo |
|---|---|
| Type | Tackling Trade in Rhino Horn |
| Grant Amount | $75,000 |
| Duration | 1 year |
Conserv Congo operates in the illegal wildlife trade (IWT) sector within the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), with support from the RRF. The DRC plays a critical role in the rhino poaching and trade across the region because within the DRC there is high local demand for rhino horn from organized criminal networks for onward export to Asian markets. In addition, there are networks of Congolese nationals and their associates operating across Southern Africa to target rhino populations in Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. They are critical suppliers of firearms and funding to poaching gangs as well as providing transport for onward transport into DRC where they are cached in depots before export.