The Last Stand of the Gorilla

In considering the adaptation of an OASIS model to deal ex- clusively with wildlife/environmental crime it is critical to recognize that other more ‘mainstream’ types of crime are inextricably linked to that crime type and require a level of expertise more usually found within national police agencies. It is therefore highly recommended that any adopted law en- forcement model should include the national police agencies in any given region. When considering the suitability of an OASIS model exclu- sively for wildlife crime, the first step in the process must be the determination as to whether the model will focus on a region (e.g. South Asia) or a specific species based problem (e.g. tigers), as this will inevitably determine the structure, size and scope of the model to be implemented. The ultimate decision on a ‘way forward’ will also inevitably define the bud- get requirements. It is also highly recommended that any law enforcement ini- tiative should be regionally based rather than species specific, as the overall gains in sustainable capacity and effectiveness as part of a holistic response to wildlife crime are likely to be significantly better

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