WWF Concern for Gabon Elephants

WWF charity officials are becoming increasingly concerned at the number of elephants that have been killed by poachers in Gabon in the last decade. A staggering 11,000 elephants have met their fate at the hands of poachers since 2004, which could be up to 77% of the national population.

Questions must now be asked on whether Gabon’s elephants will even survive the next 5 years at the rate they are being hunted. If numbers continue to fall as dramatically as they have been, the species could well be extinct unless major changes are made in not just protection, but also the countries governing law.

WWF now feel that the region is now in crisis, as poachers take advantage of the political instability in the country. Calls are now being made to send in armed forces to stop the poachers before it’s too late. If things remain the same as they are, it’s clear to see that Central Africa’s elephants population will be hunted to extinction in the same way the western black and northern white rhinoceroses were. International intelligence communities  needs to get involved to help put the criminal networks that profit from poaching out of business.

Head of WWF’s global campaign against wildlife trade in Central Africa, Bas Huijbregts, said –

The situation is out of control. We are witnessing the systematic slaughter of the world’s largest land mammal. Some reports lead the world to believe that the ivory war has moved from the Central Africa region to other parts of the continent. This is wrong. What has changed is that these criminals are now also attacking the better protected elephant herds in Eastern and Southern Africa. But here in Central Africa, unnoticed to the world, elephants are losing this war at lightning speed.

Here’s hoping that WWF can work with the Gabon government to put a halt to this dreadful trade, because at this rate the elephant will be extinct in an area of Africa where once their number were plentiful. If you would like to help WWF to protect the world’s elephants, why not adopted one through our dedicated page that is designed specifically to help their cause? Here you can learn more about their work, and also how you can provide funds for animals that really need our help.