Wildlife Offender Reintegration Programme

Reducing wildlife crime doesn’t stop at arrest; it requires breaking the cycle. In Zambia, WCP is working beyond the courtroom to reduce reoffending in wildlife crime. A prison survey revealed that poverty and lack of alternative livelihoods are key drivers of recidivism, showing that convictions alone are not enough. In response, WCP launched a pilot reintegration programme across correctional facilities in Southern and Western Provinces. The programme identifies grassroots wildlife offenders before release and provides tailored support on their return to society, including identifying stable accommodation, social support, and income-generating opportunities. By addressing the underlying vulnerabilities that make individuals susceptible to recruitment by organised crime networks, this approach helps break the cycle of reoffending and supports safer, more resilient communities. Since the programme began, none of the participants has reoffended. Alongside implementation, WCP is developing a scientific recidivism risk profile to better understand and prevent wildlife crime at scale. Implemented in close partnership with the Department of National Parks & Wildlife and the Zambia Correctional Service, with support from GIZ Zambia's Partnership against Wildlife Crime in Africa and Asia, implemented on behalf of BMZ/BMUKN. 📹: Conservation Connect Films