Several conservation NGOs in Central Africa, along with academia, have jointly signed a scientific article which shows (*)  that more than 60% of the forest elephant population has been wiped out in the past decade in Central Africa owing mainly to large scale poaching.

This could simply lead to extinction by 2025, if the stakeholders concerned (Governments and subregional and global organizations, central and devolved administrations, international, national and local NGOs, extractive  and Public Works,  industries, donors, scientists, the media, etc)continue to work in the same manner as in the last 10 years, with the same results and equally the same drawbacks.  

In fact, much has actually been achieved in the last 10 years: areas to be protected have been gazeted; laws, strategies and plans have been designed; knowledge, competences and capacities have been strengthened.

It is however obvious that these efforts are not enough.  

Though frameworks have been established and/or strengthened for 10 years, we still need to change many of our practices.

To this end, there is a need to develop, in addition to existing ones, new specific approaches, dealing particularly with issues of good and bad practices- especially in terms of governance.   

Download the French version of the press release "le communiqué de presse : Extinction imminente des Eléphants de Forêt "

English version:  Extinction Looms for Forest Elephants

Kindly visit the following link:  Eléphants de forêt d'Afrique : la menace d'une extinction totale d'ici 2025

For further information, kindly contact:

Romain Calaque (rcalaque@wcs.org)

Central Africa Regional Coordinator for Policy and Programme Support

WCS Africa & Europe

P.O. Box-3055 Yaoundé Cameroun

(*) = 60 scientists analyzed 11,000 samples collected between 2002 and 2011 in 5 countries (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Republic of Congo) along 13,000 kilometers of footpaths covered by 91,600 person-days.

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