As the SCA’s annual awards programme returns in 2023 – read more about the full programme – we look back on 10 years of the programme and understand the impact on international networking and capacity building.
Excellence in Saiga Protection opens on Sunday 2 April 2023.
Excellence in Saiga Protection is one of those awards. Through ESP we acknowledge committed individuals, rangers, police, governmental or nongovernmental staff for their dedication and inspirational work to help conserve this critically endangered species.
2015’s award was dedicated to Uldis Knakis a young Latvian biologist who devoted his life to studying and protecting the saiga. In 1970, the week before he turned 31, Khakis was shot and killed by poachers unhappy with his efforts to crack down on illegal saiga hunting. The murderers were never identified.
In 2015 SCA announced Enkhbat Enkhjargal, senior inspector at the Department to combat environmental crimes at General Police Department, Mongolia, the overall winner of the Excellence in Saiga Protection award.
Chimeddorj Buyanaa, Programme Implementation Manager of WWF Mongolia Programme Office nominated Major Enkhjargal.
Of Major Enkhjargal and his qualities, Chimeddorj said:
‘Major Enkhbat Enkhjargal is a talented investigator who has achieved success in conducting investigation and collected evidence leading procecutions Detecting the crime of poaching of an endangered species is not an easy task due to its complex organisational nature trafficking routes and supply chain. Apart from professional skills, other qualifications are needed such as intuition and leadership skills. These skills are possessed by the major Enkhbat Enkhjargal nurtured by his experience, excellent organizational and leadership skills that were essential in detecting several cases of poaching, including those of the Mongolian Saiga. In spite of difficult political and civil conditions.’
At the time of nomination Chimeddorj noted Major Enkhbat Enkhjargal was fighting and investigating environmental crimes yet, many suspects were not prosecuted because murder cases were at the attention of the law enforcement agencies not poaching. The social perception was also ignoring environmental crimes. Another factor impacting this is also related to the absence of a specialised department in charge of investigating such cases.
Thanks to the efforts of he and his team, the situation changed and prosecution were made. The major highlighted:
“The situation has changed with the creation of a department that combats environmental crimes. A milestone in the history of nature conservation. There is significant progress in decreased poaching incidents. This was also a result of pressure from the environmental conservation organisations and lobbying high-level officials from the General Police Department.”
In 2014, major Enkhbat Enkhjargal and his team detected two cases of Saiga poaching and horn trade. The two cases were transferred to the court and prosecuted.
In the first case three Mongolian citizens were detained while illegally importing 162 Saiga horns into Mongolia. This case was detected thanks to information provided by the network of informants. The investigation process was impeccably conducted collecting incontrovertible evidence which helped to detain the offenders. These smugglers and poachers later confessed their intention to export the horns poached in the Kazakhstan and Russian Federation to China.
In another case the illegal transportation of 37 Saiga horns was detected by local police officers in Gobi-Altai. During a routine vehicle inspection at a checkpoint, the criminal refused the search, and sped off. During their escape the vehicle turned over in the road.
Despite the evidence of horn in the vehicles, the suspects did not confess. A team of police officers led by the major Enkhbat Enkhjargal was sent to Gobi-Altai province and helped the investigation process that resulted in confessions. The court imposed a sentence of 3-3.5 years.
Excellence in Saiga Protection opens on Sunday 2 April 2023.