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This is Ephrem. During the last two weeks, the Virunga National Park has lost 14 elephants and 2 hippos as recorded below. All the park has been affected especially the central sector: Rwindi and Rutshuru where 12 elephants have been recorded. The main responsible of this killing are Rwanda militias (FDLR): 5 elephants, Congolese militias (PARECO): 3 elephants and Congolese soldiers (FARDC): 5. A Congolese high Commander has recently told to soldiers that poaching is a crime that is going to be severely punished.
Sunday afertnoon, while coming from Beni with WCS’s vehicle, we met at Mabenga checkpoint a FARDC and rangers joint patrol coming from the forest. They have just arrested 6 Rwandan militias who killed an elephant near their positions of Kahunga. Unfortunatly , it wasn’t possible to take a picture. These men have been transfered at Rwindi, the ICCN HQ of the central sector of Virunga National Park. they should be prosecuted. There is an increase of ivory demand that is a solid incentive of looting elephants in the park. The networks are in the DRC as well as in the neighbouring countries. In Bujumbura, some dealers are paying more than US$ 50 /kg. Congolese Park Authority is facing many difficulties to put an end to this poaching.
8 Comments posted on "SOS: 14 Elephants killed in Virunga"
elephant » Blog Archive » SOS: 14 Elephants killed in Virunga on April 29th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptDuring the last two weeks, the Virunga National Park has lost 14 elephants and 2 hippos as recorded below. All the park has been affected especially the central sector: Rwindi and Rutshuru where 12 elephants have been recorded. … […]
Dipesh Pabari on April 29th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Does anyone know if the allegations against UN peacekeepers (see Manioc Valley Blob) is bineg investigated seriously. Both the supply and the demand have to be addressed
Paula on April 29th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
This report needs to be filed with CITES and the MIKE (Monitoring illegal killing of elephants) program which is handled by the African elephant specialist Group. Ephrem pls send me the details in an email and I’ll send on the alarm for you
sheryl, washington dc on April 30th, 2008 at 3:51 am
Dipesh asked my question. Now that the news about corrupt UN peacekeepers has broken, I think it’s time to start writing to the UN and the U.S. Congress to launch a serious investigation. I’ll try to dig up contact info later today. s.
Brigitta, Switzerland on April 30th, 2008 at 5:01 am
There have been terrible news in the newspapers of switzerland about Uno-soldiers from India and Pakistan. They have been arrestet because they have traded wappons for evory and gold!
Wanda, Atlanta on April 30th, 2008 at 6:46 am
We need to overwhelm the U.S. Congress and UN with complaints and letters, etc.
endingcharcoal on April 30th, 2008 at 11:57 am
At the last news, the six guys arrested are not FDLR members. They are local people from Kibirizi (west of the park), hired by soldiers to poach elephants for ivory. ICCN hasn’t the control of these poachers who are handled by the army. According to the involvement of soldiers in the poaching, these guys could fly away without any prosecution. conservationnists have to monitor carefully.
Pirjo,Finland on May 2nd, 2008 at 12:16 am
Daily Telegraph in UK published recently an interview with Richard Leakey, in which Mr. Leakey addresses the increasing problem with poaching and how it is starting to have a dramatic effect on wildlife all across Africa. The loss of both big and small mammals are being ignored and people don’t seem to understand that many species can be lost forever. Post a comment
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