Huge massacre of elephants in the Central African Republic: As many as 1000 elephants butchered.
16/09/2006 00:00:00
By Philippe Chardonnet & Hubert Boulet – International Foundation for the Conservation of Wildlife (IGF Foundation)
Some good news from the region
- Vast herds of wildlife have been found in Southern Sudan.
- Click here to read the full story
Massive poaching of elephants for ivory
Where?
North East of the Central African Republic (CAR), Bamingui-Bangoran and Vakaga Provinces, near to the borders with Sudan (South Darfur Province) and Chad (Salamat Region).
Where?
North East of the Central African Republic (CAR), Bamingui-Bangoran and Vakaga Provinces, near to the borders with Sudan (South Darfur Province) and Chad (Salamat Region).
When?
In 2007, as in the previous years, we are faced here with a highly organised campaign.
The slaughter of elephants started with the arrival of Sudanese poachers at the beginning of the dry season, early January for some areas, and mid-January for others. The end of the campaign takes place when the poachers leave with the onset of the wet season, around mid- May in some areas, and end of May for others. One can therefore estimate that the poaching campaign lasted 4 to 5 months.
Old or new?
This poaching campaign is not new; it is a recurrent phenomenon which happens every year during the dry season, possibly for centuries. Qualifying it as a ‘traditional’ event is not appropriate, not the least because traditionally the poachers have not had high powered automatic weapons. The level of poaching fluctuates a great deal, particularly according to the level of the anti-poaching efforts. 2007 has been a great year for the poachers who have taken advantage of the interruption of the ECOFAC/ZCV Programme.
In 2007, as in the previous years, we are faced here with a highly organised campaign.
The slaughter of elephants started with the arrival of Sudanese poachers at the beginning of the dry season, early January for some areas, and mid-January for others. The end of the campaign takes place when the poachers leave with the onset of the wet season, around mid- May in some areas, and end of May for others. One can therefore estimate that the poaching campaign lasted 4 to 5 months.
Old or new?
This poaching campaign is not new; it is a recurrent phenomenon which happens every year during the dry season, possibly for centuries. Qualifying it as a ‘traditional’ event is not appropriate, not the least because traditionally the poachers have not had high powered automatic weapons. The level of poaching fluctuates a great deal, particularly according to the level of the anti-poaching efforts. 2007 has been a great year for the poachers who have taken advantage of the interruption of the ECOFAC/ZCV Programme.
Data collection:
All the data was directly collected by the authors who were physically present in the area during the poaching campaign. The authors only collected statements and reports from direct observers (first-hand observations). All the statements reported by third parties
(second-hand observations) were systematically rejected.
Observers:
There were 9 observers, all either professional guides or tourist operators who involved either with the lease of a Game Management Area (GMA), or the rent of a Community Hunting Area (Zone de Chasse Villageoise – ZCV). All these operators have joined to form an association (NGO) officially registered in CAR: the Association pour la Protection de la Faune Centrafricaine (APFC).
On the ground, the observers are in connection with each other through a double network of HF radio and satellite telephone.
All the data was directly collected by the authors who were physically present in the area during the poaching campaign. The authors only collected statements and reports from direct observers (first-hand observations). All the statements reported by third parties
(second-hand observations) were systematically rejected.
Observers:
There were 9 observers, all either professional guides or tourist operators who involved either with the lease of a Game Management Area (GMA), or the rent of a Community Hunting Area (Zone de Chasse Villageoise – ZCV). All these operators have joined to form an association (NGO) officially registered in CAR: the Association pour la Protection de la Faune Centrafricaine (APFC).
On the ground, the observers are in connection with each other through a double network of HF radio and satellite telephone.
Evaluation area:
The present evaluation is strictly limited to the areas managed by the observers concerned. Contiguous neighbouring areas have not been integrated in this evaluation, even though one can reasonably suspect poaching incidents also.
Size of the evaluation area:
The total size of each of the concerned areas put together amounts to 23,634 km2, or around 2.4 million hectares.
Carcass observation:
Each observer has recorded the number of elephant carcasses witnessed by him in his own working area during the poaching campaign, excluding any other areas. All the carcass observations were made at random. This means they are not the result of specifically focused research aiming at discovering elephant carcasses.
Observers did not make any particular effort to find the elephants because they are not elephant hunters. Indeed, elephant hunting is now suspended in CAR. Therefore, all the observed carcasses were accidentally found in the course of tourist operations. Several observers have even mentioned that they were intentionally avoiding looking for carcasses when they suspected they were nearby, either from the smell in forest galleries or from the close sound of gun shots.
Carcass observation rates:
Each observer provided his own estimation of ‘the carcass observation ratio’, i.e. the ratio between the number of witnessed carcasses & the evaluated total number of carcasses in their specific operating area, during the campaign period. This estimate is of course subjective, but it is supported by a whole set of indices, direct and indirect, that were collected in the course of daily movements throughout the area:
- Strong smell of decaying carcass in forest galleries;
- Gun shots heard every day, mainly from war weapons;
- Baby elephants observed on their own in the bush (One very small one came to take refuge with the observers);
- Tracks of Sudanese poachers: footprints of military shoes, of donkeys, of horses and of camels, campsites;
- Increasingly aggressive elephants.
The present evaluation is strictly limited to the areas managed by the observers concerned. Contiguous neighbouring areas have not been integrated in this evaluation, even though one can reasonably suspect poaching incidents also.
Size of the evaluation area:
The total size of each of the concerned areas put together amounts to 23,634 km2, or around 2.4 million hectares.
Carcass observation:
Each observer has recorded the number of elephant carcasses witnessed by him in his own working area during the poaching campaign, excluding any other areas. All the carcass observations were made at random. This means they are not the result of specifically focused research aiming at discovering elephant carcasses.
Observers did not make any particular effort to find the elephants because they are not elephant hunters. Indeed, elephant hunting is now suspended in CAR. Therefore, all the observed carcasses were accidentally found in the course of tourist operations. Several observers have even mentioned that they were intentionally avoiding looking for carcasses when they suspected they were nearby, either from the smell in forest galleries or from the close sound of gun shots.
Carcass observation rates:
Each observer provided his own estimation of ‘the carcass observation ratio’, i.e. the ratio between the number of witnessed carcasses & the evaluated total number of carcasses in their specific operating area, during the campaign period. This estimate is of course subjective, but it is supported by a whole set of indices, direct and indirect, that were collected in the course of daily movements throughout the area:
- Strong smell of decaying carcass in forest galleries;
- Gun shots heard every day, mainly from war weapons;
- Baby elephants observed on their own in the bush (One very small one came to take refuge with the observers);
- Tracks of Sudanese poachers: footprints of military shoes, of donkeys, of horses and of camels, campsites;
- Increasingly aggressive elephants.
Total number of elephants killed:
By applying the carcass observation rate to each area, we have estimated the total number of elephants shot in the given area. By adding up all the figures obtained in each area, we have estimated the total number of elephants slaughtered.
The results of the evaluation are provided in the table below:
o Total number of elephant carcasses observed: 180
o Estimated average rate of carcass observations: 33%
o Estimate of the total number of carcasses: 553
The total number of elephants killed in the North of CAR is difficult to assess, especially because the evaluation area covers less than 30% of the total elephant range in this part of the country. However, it can be reasonably said that:
- The estimated figure for the evaluation area is a minimum
- The actual figure will, of course, be much greater because elephants, as well as poachers, extend beyond the area subject to this study.
What percentage out of the total population has been killed?
The estimate of the elephant population in CAR provided by the Group of Specialists on the African Elephant of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (Elephant Survey 2007,
AfESG/SSC/IUCN) cannot be taken into account as a basis for calculation because it only involves extremely fragmented information. The limits of the elephant range are a good indicator of this deficiency. The occurrence of elephants in areas where they are regarded as absent, in the assessment published by IUCN, is well known in CAR. At present, no reliable evaluation of the elephant population in CAR is available.
Even if we estimate that the evaluation area represents 30% of the Northern Region, it is not correct however to use this percentage to calculate the total number of elephants poached, simply because the elephant density in the evaluation area is probably much higher than that of the contiguous areas. Indeed, the presence for many years, of tourist operators has certainly fostered a bigger concentration of elephants in the Hunting Areas and the ZCV where they appear more secure than elsewhere.
With the arrival of the wet season, the 2007 poaching campaign is now over. Poachers are on their way back with their ivory booty. Today, information from the ground is coming 4 from the permanent staff in place to secure the areas and camps managed by the hunting tourism operators. Informants report that elephants are still there. Evidently, not all the elephants have been shot yet.
Therefore, a new poaching campaign can be expected for 2008.
By applying the carcass observation rate to each area, we have estimated the total number of elephants shot in the given area. By adding up all the figures obtained in each area, we have estimated the total number of elephants slaughtered.
The results of the evaluation are provided in the table below:
o Total number of elephant carcasses observed: 180
o Estimated average rate of carcass observations: 33%
o Estimate of the total number of carcasses: 553
The total number of elephants killed in the North of CAR is difficult to assess, especially because the evaluation area covers less than 30% of the total elephant range in this part of the country. However, it can be reasonably said that:
- The estimated figure for the evaluation area is a minimum
- The actual figure will, of course, be much greater because elephants, as well as poachers, extend beyond the area subject to this study.
What percentage out of the total population has been killed?
The estimate of the elephant population in CAR provided by the Group of Specialists on the African Elephant of the IUCN Species Survival Commission (Elephant Survey 2007,
AfESG/SSC/IUCN) cannot be taken into account as a basis for calculation because it only involves extremely fragmented information. The limits of the elephant range are a good indicator of this deficiency. The occurrence of elephants in areas where they are regarded as absent, in the assessment published by IUCN, is well known in CAR. At present, no reliable evaluation of the elephant population in CAR is available.
Even if we estimate that the evaluation area represents 30% of the Northern Region, it is not correct however to use this percentage to calculate the total number of elephants poached, simply because the elephant density in the evaluation area is probably much higher than that of the contiguous areas. Indeed, the presence for many years, of tourist operators has certainly fostered a bigger concentration of elephants in the Hunting Areas and the ZCV where they appear more secure than elsewhere.
With the arrival of the wet season, the 2007 poaching campaign is now over. Poachers are on their way back with their ivory booty. Today, information from the ground is coming 4 from the permanent staff in place to secure the areas and camps managed by the hunting tourism operators. Informants report that elephants are still there. Evidently, not all the elephants have been shot yet.
Therefore, a new poaching campaign can be expected for 2008.
The Poachers
Elephant poachers belong to two main categories:
Foreign poachers :
They do not speak the local language, Sango. They wear, at least partially, military clothes and shoes and are generally identified as coming from Sudan. They carry war weapons and have donkeys, often horses, sometimes camels, even in areas infested by tse-tse fly. There are almost exclusively, but not completely, interested in ivory and generally leave the elephant meat untouched. The meat is then collected by local people of the region. The poachers invest all their efforts in the search of elephants.
Local poachers:
They are villagers from local communities, or from more distant areas, who are coming to take advantage of the situation, or mainly to search for diamonds. These poachers do not focus exclusively on elephants, but poach all the available species for bushmeat.
The fight against poaching
- The fight against poaching is theoretically implemented by:
o Government authorities: due to the current context, the relevant authorities have to tackle an extremely difficult situation. Rangers are faced with gangs of poachers who are, at the same time, better equipped, more experienced and trained, more numerous and certainly more motivated.
o International assistance: The ECOFAC/ZCV Programme, interrupted two years ago, was playing a double role: (1) deterrent, with the distribution of the revenue derived from sport hunting to the local communities & (2) repressive, with anti-poaching patrols, including with the assistance of community rangers.
o Private operators: hunting tourism operators have always contributed to the general effort in the fight against poaching. This year, however, due to the general context and the interruption of the ECOFAC programme, private operators suddenly found themselves alone facing the problematic situation by themselves. Unfortunately, they have suffered from injuries and even human losses among their staff.
-Anti-poaching methods:
o Poaching by outsiders: preventive methods (community-based approaches) proved to be ineffective; therefore only coercive (repressive) methods can be contemplated. However, negotiations with the sleeping partners abroad might be envisaged.
o Local poaching: The community-based approaches have already been in place for several years. Thanks to the ECOFAC programme and the voluntary contribution of tourist game operators, the ZCV are already functioning through a mechanism similar to CAMPFIRE, where local communities benefit from tourism. Nevertheless, the current system appears to be insufficient to provide enough incentives to dissuade communities from pursuing their poaching activities.
Need for International help
Considering the magnitude of the problem, only international assistance can improve the situation and save these elephants.
Elephant poachers belong to two main categories:
Foreign poachers :
They do not speak the local language, Sango. They wear, at least partially, military clothes and shoes and are generally identified as coming from Sudan. They carry war weapons and have donkeys, often horses, sometimes camels, even in areas infested by tse-tse fly. There are almost exclusively, but not completely, interested in ivory and generally leave the elephant meat untouched. The meat is then collected by local people of the region. The poachers invest all their efforts in the search of elephants.
Local poachers:
They are villagers from local communities, or from more distant areas, who are coming to take advantage of the situation, or mainly to search for diamonds. These poachers do not focus exclusively on elephants, but poach all the available species for bushmeat.
The fight against poaching
- The fight against poaching is theoretically implemented by:
o Government authorities: due to the current context, the relevant authorities have to tackle an extremely difficult situation. Rangers are faced with gangs of poachers who are, at the same time, better equipped, more experienced and trained, more numerous and certainly more motivated.
o International assistance: The ECOFAC/ZCV Programme, interrupted two years ago, was playing a double role: (1) deterrent, with the distribution of the revenue derived from sport hunting to the local communities & (2) repressive, with anti-poaching patrols, including with the assistance of community rangers.
o Private operators: hunting tourism operators have always contributed to the general effort in the fight against poaching. This year, however, due to the general context and the interruption of the ECOFAC programme, private operators suddenly found themselves alone facing the problematic situation by themselves. Unfortunately, they have suffered from injuries and even human losses among their staff.
-Anti-poaching methods:
o Poaching by outsiders: preventive methods (community-based approaches) proved to be ineffective; therefore only coercive (repressive) methods can be contemplated. However, negotiations with the sleeping partners abroad might be envisaged.
o Local poaching: The community-based approaches have already been in place for several years. Thanks to the ECOFAC programme and the voluntary contribution of tourist game operators, the ZCV are already functioning through a mechanism similar to CAMPFIRE, where local communities benefit from tourism. Nevertheless, the current system appears to be insufficient to provide enough incentives to dissuade communities from pursuing their poaching activities.
Need for International help
Considering the magnitude of the problem, only international assistance can improve the situation and save these elephants.
