Cameroon, DR Congo
African Forest Elephant Protection
Endangered
Forest elephants are in rapid decline. Roughly 60-80% of forest elephants have been killed in the past decade.
The main cause for the escalating rise in elephant killings is the growing demand for ivory: Asia is still a major market for poached ivory. The liberalization of the ivory trade pushed by some countries is also contributing to the widespread slaughter. In addition, the increased presence of Chinese labourers and traders in Africa feeds a massive domestic demand for ivory in their home country.
Project locations
Areas:
South West Province, Cameroon
South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Activities: Anti-poaching, protected area development, corridors, conservation, research, conservation education.
THE PROBLEM
Dangerous Demands
Ivory is used especially in China, Japan and Thailand for decorative and religious ornaments. A conservative estimate for 2011 is that more than 25,000 elephants have been killed and their tusks smuggled into these countries to be carved into artefacts. In Asian countries there is a growing affluent middle class and the demand for elephant ivory has now become an investment vehicle in China, wanted as a form of white gold.
Elephant Poaching
Poachers in Africa are heavily armed and organized. In 2012, 650 elephants were killed in Bouba N’Djida National Park in Cameroon by Sudanese militia using machine guns. In DR-Congo, 22 dead elephants were found in Garamba National Park with a single bullet hole in the top of their heads. Authorities believe the Ugandan military and one of their helicopters have been involved. In March 2013, rebels from Sudan killed 86 elephants in Chad. Urgent action is needed to stop these atrocities.
Congo and DR-Congo, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Cameroon and Gabon have been strongest hit by elephant poachers.
Saving Elephants and their Habitats
We establish new protected areas in Central and West Africa and engage local communities in the protection of Forest elephants by turning poachers into rangers and community scouts. In order save the remaining African forest elephants, illegal poaching for ivory and encroachment into core elephant habitat must be stopped.
Your help is urgently needed to support anti-poaching rangers & stop the demand for ivory in Asian countries.