Stories

Congo: Elephant poacher and wildlife trafficker sentenced to 30 years in prison August 25, 2020

In an unprecedented and encouraging move, a criminal court in the Congo has sentenced an elephant poacher and wildlife trafficker to 30 years in prison. The poacher, known as Guyvanho, is believed to have killed hundreds of elephants in Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park. Having escaped from prison in 2018, he was re-captured after attempting to murder park rangers last year. Guyvanho is the first wildlife trafficker convicted in Congo’s Criminal Court.

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Eliminating the illegal wildlife trade March 30, 2020

How do we stop the next wildlife-related pandemic? Read how grantees and partners of the Wildlife Conservation Network, including the Elephant Crisis Fund, are working hard to eliminate the illegal wildlife trade, which has been linked to emergent diseases including coronavirus.

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Rare sighting of Senegalese elephant brings fresh but cautious hope February 4, 2020

A wild elephant has been sighted for the first time in many years in Senegal’s Niokolo-Koba National Park. The lone bull was spotted by a field team including a researcher from Panthera, in Niokolo on January 19. The sighting is believed to be the first confirmed direct sighting of an elephant in the park in many years.

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Six Elephants Fitted with GPS/Satellite Collars in August/September to Further Reinforce Ongoing Protection Efforts in Yankari Game Reserve October 2, 2019

WCS announced today that it has fitted six elephants with GPS/satellite collars over the past two months in Nigeria’s Yankari Game Reserve. The collars are providing real-time tracking of elephant herds, allowing ranger teams to shadow the elephants at all times and alert the reserve manager whenever elephants are in danger or stray outside of the reserve.

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Can the Ivory Coast Still Live Up To its Name? August 28, 2019

West Africa’s elephants are in more trouble than any others on the continent. Most populations are tiny, living in small patches of forest surrounded by farmland, under threat from poaching and human elephant conflict and struggling to survive. Ivory Coast’s elephants have suffered more than most, but there are signs of hope that some at least may be able to survive.

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Helping tackle illegal ivory markets July 29, 2019

When the Chinese government banned the sale of ivory at the end of 2017, it was a significant step but unfortunately not the end of the demand nor the illegal killing of elephants for ivory. The illegal ivory trade is like a hydra, with new heads of the beast springing up on China’s border, particularly in Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.

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