SOUTH SUDAN: 30 Percent Of Elephants Killed In Ongoing Conflict

Conservationists have found that 30 percent of elephants equipped with satellite collars to track their movements have been killed since the war broke out last year.

The US-based Wildlife Conservation Society had fitted 60 GPS collars on elephants across South Sudan to help wildlife officers in their efforts to protect them.

“We have established that of collared elephants alive in December last year, 30 percent are likely to have been killed by poachers,” the organisation said in a statement last week.

“Eight seizures of ivory, totaling 65 tusks, have been made over the past ten months, further demonstrating the high rate of poaching and trafficking.”

The organisation initially estimated the number of elephants left at 5,000 but more detailed surveys in recent years found that there are less than 2,500 remaining. This compares to 80,000 elephants in the 1970s.

Elephants are not the only wild animals slaughtered on a large scale to feed the armies on both sides of the conflict.

The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) also raised the alarm bells over the drastic reduction in giraffes, tiang and waterbuck antelopes.

It estimates the number of remaining giraffes in the country at less than 500, warning that the ongoing insecurity is pushing them closer to national extinction.

“With the onset of the dry season and the fighting continuing, South Sudan’s remaining elephants, giraffes, tiang and other vulnerable wildlife species are in grave danger,” the statement said.

It quoted Lt. Gen. Alfred Akwoch, an adviser to the Ministry of Wildlife and Tourism, as saying that poaching today is worse than ever.

“Since the start of the conflict, we have noticed that poaching has become terrible. Rebels are poaching and the government forces are also poaching because they are all fighting in rural areas where the only food they can get is wild meat,” Akwoch said.

WCS director Paul Elkan said elephants and giraffes can greatly contribute to tourism and economic development but only if they are protected.

The American organisation is active in and around Badingilo National Park, Southern National Park, Lantoto National Park, Boma National Park and Shambe National Park.

However, it is not able to operate in areas affected by the conflict, including the Zeraf Reserve and key wildlife areas of Upper Nile, northern Jonglei, Unity, Lakes and Warrap states.

Director Elkan called on both the SPLA and the rebels to stop all poaching, consumption of game meat and ivory trafficking.

He also called on both sides to grant full and unrestricted access for conservation activities.

He further had a message for the general public, foreign and local NGOs and private companies.

“We ask that all citizens follow the law, which prohibits buying or trading ivory and that they alert authorities of any cases of elephant poaching or ivory trafficking,” the WCS director said.

Local and international organisations as well as companies are urged to ensure that their staff members respect the wildlife and that their infrastructure, vehicles or aircrafts are not used for poaching or trafficking.