Yaoundé, Cameroon
- At least 26 elephants were massacred in
the Dzanga Bai World Heritage Site in the
Central African Republic, after 17 individuals
armed with Kalashnikov rifles on Monday
entered this unique elephant habitat, known
locally as the “village of elephants”.
WWF sources on Thursday
said they had counted at least 26 elephant
carcasses in and around the Bai, a large
clearing where between 50 and 200 elephants
congregate every day to drink nutrients
present in the sands.
Four of the elephants
were calves, the sources said, adding that
local villagers had started taking meat
from the carcasses.
Since the poachers arrived
no elephants have been seen at the Bai,
which was described as an “elephant mortuary”
the sources added.
Although the 17 armed
individuals, who presented themselves as
part of the country’s transitional government
forces, have left the area, WWF and other
conservation partners fear the killing could
continue unless the area is properly secured.
The Central African
Republic has been rocked by violence and
chaos since the beginning of the year, and
WWF and other conservation organizations
left the field office next to the Bai in
April for security reasons.
Jim Leape, WWF International
Director General, said: “The killing has
started. The Central African Republic must
act immediately to secure this unique World
Heritage site.
“The brutal violence
we are witnessing in Dzanga Bai threatens
to destroy one of the world’s great natural
treasures, and to jeopardise the future
of the people who live there.
“The international community
must also act to assist the Central African
Republic to restore peace and order in this
country to safeguard its population and
its natural heritage.
“WWF also asks Cameroon
and the Republic of Congo to assist the
Central African Republic in preserving this
World Heritage Site, which not only encompasses
the Bai, but also includes large neighbouring
areas of these two countries.
“The events in Dzanga
Bai are a vivid reminder of the existential
threat faced by forest elephants in Central
Africa. Populations of this species have
plummeted 62 per cent over the past ten
years.
“The unfolding tragedy
in Dzanga Bai must also spur the governments
of China and Thailand to shut down the illegal
ivory markets in their countries that are
fueling this illicit trade.”
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Alert: Poachers enter
unique elephant habitat
Poachers have entered
one of Africa’s most unique elephant habitats
on Monday, threatening to cause one of the
biggest elephant massacres in the region
since poachers killed at least 300 elephants
for their ivory in Cameroon’s Bouba N’Djida
National Park in February 2012.
According to WWF sources,
a group of 17 armed individuals on Monday
entered the Dzanga-Ndoki National Park and
headed for the Dzanga Bai, locally known
as the “village of elephants”, a large clearing
where between 50 and 200 elephants congregate
every day to drink mineral salts present
in the sands.
Two WWF-supported local
researchers said that three members of this
group armed with Kalashnikov rifles approached
them in the forest on Monday, asking for
food and directions to the viewing tower
at the Dzanga Bai, which is used by scientists
and tourists to observe elephants. After
giving a false lead, these sources immediately
ran away and heard gunshots coming from
the Bai on their way into hiding.
Also on Monday, two
ecoguards said they saw they saw armed individuals
on the Dzanga Bai observation platform shooting
in the direction of elephants. While going
into hiding, these sources said they saw
the vehicle which had transported the 17
gunmen parked at the entrance of the park.
WWF calls on the international
community to help restore peace and order
in the Central African Republic, which has
been rocked by violence and chaos since
the beginning of the year, and to help preserve
this unique World Heritage Site.
Jim Leape, WWF International
Director General, said:
“Unless swift and decisive
action is taken, it appears highly likely
that poachers will take advantage of the
chaos and instability of the country to
slaughter the elephants living in this unique
World Heritage Site.
“Wildlife crime is not
only a consequence of instability, but a
cause. It fuels violence in the region,
in a vicious circle that undermines the
stability of these countries and their economic
development..
“Central African Republic
has to immediately follow through on its
promise of two weeks ago to mobilise troops
to end poaching in the region. WWF also
calls on the international community to
immediately provide assistance to Central
African Republic in restoring peace and
order in the country, and to preserve its
unique natural heritage.
“We also urge Cameroon
and Republic of Congo to provide support
to the Central African Republic in preserving
this World Heritage Site, which not only
encompasses the Bai, but also includes large
neighbouring areas of these two countries.
“Finally, ivory consumer
country governments, and notably China and
Thailand, must redouble their efforts to
end demand – the root cause of the extermination
of elephants across Africa.”
