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

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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.”

THAI PRIME MINISTER PLEDGES TO END IVORY TRADE

Thai Prime minister just pledged to end the ivory trade after nearly 1.4 million of Avaazers and WWF supporters joined Leonardo DiCaprio in the campaign againist ivory trade. A source in the Thai government said the announcement was a direct result of the campaigns. Thousands sent her emails and left so many comments on her Facebook Page that they temporarily shut her page down! Huge thanks to everyone who took part. " Now we will need to keep up the pressure to make sure she follows her pledge up with real action, so this announcement can help stem the global poaching crisis," Avaaz posted on facebook.