WWF Outrage as Poachers Attack Village of Elephants

WWF charity officials were left in shock and anger when a group of poachers killed 26 elephants at the Dzanga Bai World Heritage Site in the Central African Republic. 17 armed poachers entered what is known as the ‘Village of Elephants’ with Kalashnikov rifles, to massacre the beautiful creatures for their ivory and meat.

Among those killed were four elephant calves, and since the incident no more have visited the area where up to 200 usually come to drink and eat. The area has now eerily been called the ‘elephant mortuary’, and steps now need to be taken to secure the area before further carnage ensues.

What possesses people to take part in such wanton violence against animals as beautiful as the elephant? Greed for one, but unless something is done soon against acts such as this, then the elephant could be extinct far sooner than anticipated.

WWF International Director General, Jim Leape, 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 officials will now be asking for the assistance of both Cameroon and the Republic of Congo to help preserve the World Heritage Site that makes up a large part of the areas next to these two countries. With sporadic violence kicking off across the Central African Republic, now is the time for neighbouring governments and forces to step in and help put an end to the chaos that has descended since the beginning of the year.

Here’s wishing WWF the best of luck in their endeavours to help stop the madness this is ensuing in the Central African Republic, and that no more of the local elephant population are hurt in acts of extreme, and unnecessary violence.

If you would like to support the work of WWF in helping to save the African Elephant, why not adopt one through our website? Your small monthly donation goes a long way to helping WWF protect elephants from poachers, and safe guard their future against acts of barbarism such as what happened recently in the Central African Republic.