Capacity Building Workshop on Animal Law Enforcements

On 5th November, 2024 the Zoological Survey of India in collaboration with the Department of Animal Biology & Conservation Sciences, University of Ghana and the Ghana Wildlife Society held a workshop at the Biotechnology Centre, University of Ghana to build entrusted network and strengthening law enforcement against the killing of Pangolins in Ghana and the West Africa sub-region. During the workshop, it was highlighted that the population of pangolins in Ghana over the past years has greatly reduced and as such, strict and sustainable measures (including species identification using molecular methods) must be implemented to safeguard pangolins populations. The participants (30) were, therefore, introduced to wet-lab molecular biology techniques such as genomic DNA extraction, running of PCR using pangolins species-specific primers, running of gel electrophoresis and imaging (Fig. 3.0). It is anticipated that the workshop would provide participants with basic skills and knowledge required for molecular studies and/or identification of pangolins and related species.