OF ELEPHANT AND RHINO POACHING; THE PAIN AND POACHERS

The pain an Elephant or Rhino has to endure to have its tusk or horn cut/removed by a poacher is out of this world. Poachers have graduated from use of arrows, pangas and snares to now power saws, grenades and sophisticated guns on choppers. 

Militants such as Janjaweed are said to benefit immensely from poaching. One day, they are alleged to have killed 26elephants in Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in Central African Republic. 

Kenya's no different as this week Dr.Leakey (Wildlife Direct founder) claimed that 25 Government officials in the Jubilee Government are engaged in illegal animal tusks trade. As much as the new anti-poaching law appears tough to an average poacher, it could be a walk in the park for poaching bigwigs, particularly if the Ksh.20M fine is to go by, given the fact that 6kg of rhino tusks can fetch about ksh.25M. 

However, a life sentence to a convicted poacher can turn a few tables if often applied. 2012, 2013 and 2014 have been the bloodiest years Africa conservation has seen.

 
Here is my 2bob collection of Poaching incidents in Africa the last 2Years:

 
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2014/03/wildlife-poaching-in-kenya-2014.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-pregnant-elephant-loses-life-to.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/11/suspected-poachers-killed-in-laikipia.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/03/another-black-rhino-loses-life-to.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/09/41-elephants-poisoned-by-poachers-in.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/06/another-elephant-killed-save-elephant.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/05/poachers-kill-26-elephants-at-sanctuary.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/05/breaking-biggest-elephant-massacres-in.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/04/gruesome-tragedy-as-another-elephant.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/03/breaking-news-from-bangkok.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2013/03/thai-prime-minister-pledges-to-end.html
- http://kijijimoja.blogspot.com/2012/09/world-rhino-day.html

POACHERS KILL 26 ELEPHANTS AT A SANCTUARY IN CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC (CAR)

Even after alarm was raised on the impending raid on May 6, after a group of about 17 poachers was spotted entering Dzanga-Ndoki National Park in Central African Repubulic, the poachers succeeded in killing about 26 Elephnants among them 4 calves, wildlife officials reported. According to World Wildlife Foundation, the area is known as 'the village of Elephants.' It attracts herds of elephants daily who gather to drink mineral salts in the sands.

The Guardian reported," The CAR has been unstable since a coup mounted by the Séléka rebel coalition brought down the government of Francois Bozizé on 24 March. Seventeen Arabic-speaking poachers, thought by local ecoguards to be Sudanese, arrived at the park on Monday in a vehicle emblazoned with the Séléka name. They were later seen shooting from a tourist viewing platform overlooking Dzanga Bai."

According to Jim Leape, WWF's international irector general, The Central African Republic has been locked in political instability that seems to catalyze activities by poachers from the region. 

Poaching in the region has been on the rise. January - February 2012, at least 300 Elephants were killed in Cameron's Bouba N'Djida National Park . 

Related stories: Poachers kill 26 elephants at central African world heritage site

                        Nearly 300 elephants slain in Cameroon for ivory, government minister confirms

BREAKING: THE BIGGEST ELEPHANT MASSACRES IN RECENT HISTORY MAY BE UNDERWAY

By the World Wildlife Fund via facebook page - “ Taking advantage of the ongoing political instability in Central African Republic, poachers may be preparing to perpetrate one of the biggest elephant massacres in recent history. WWF sources said heavily armed poachers were in Dzanga Bai, locally known as the “village of elephants,” inside Dzanga-Ndoki National Park. Between 50 and 200 elephants congregate every day in the large clearing to drink mineral salts present in the sands.

WWF urges the country to mobilize troops to end poaching, and calls on the international community to help restore peace in the country and preserve its unique natural heritage.
We will post updates as they become available here: http://wwf.to/17K6ztz. Please share and help us spread the word.”