Elephant Poachers Open Fire at World Heritage Site, Death Toll Unknown

Armed with Kalashnikov rifles, a gang of poachers entered what is known as the "village of elephants" in a World Heritage Site and one of the Earth's most unique elephant habitats, and opened fire, worrying activists and researchers and prompting outcry from international organizations.

According to a report by the World Wildlife Fund, the poachers entered the densely-forested Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, which lies on a triangle of land in the Central African Republic between Cameroon and Congo, and asked a local researcher for directions to the viewing tower at Dzanga Bai, which is used by scientist and tourists to observe elephants.

The WWF report said that after the local researchers gave false direction, they ran away to safety, but heard gunshots coming from the Bai.

"We know that there was a lot of Kalashnikov fire over the last couple of days, and into the night," said Dr. Anna Feistner from WWF who has been based in the area for the past three years, according to the BBC.

"We now know the guys have left - Our belief is that elephants have been killed but we don't yet know the scale."

Up to 200 elephants are known to gather daily at the Bai, where they drink mineral salts that are present in the sands there.

At least 17 individuals were reported heading in the direction of elephants; some of them were armed with heavy-caliber rifles.

Elephants are poached for their ivory across Africa and the amount of ivory seized this year is said to be at the highest level in 16 years, the BBC reported. Feistner told BBC that she believed the poachers were Sudanese who have been trying to operate in the area for some time and were now taking advantage of the lawless state in the Central African Republic, where disorder and violence is widespread.

Last year an elephant poaching operation in Cameroon's Bouba N'Djida national park that left at least 300 elephants dead.

WWF International Director General Jim Leape called on the local government to take action.

"Unless swift and decisive action is taken, it appears highly likely that poachers will take advantage of the chaos and instability of the country to slaughter the elephants living in this unique World Heritage Site," he said.

"Central African Republic has to immediately follow through on its promise of two weeks ago to mobilize troops to end poaching in the region. WWF also calls on the international community to immediately provide assistance to Central African Republic in restoring peace and order in the country, and to preserve its unique natural heritage.

He also made a play at the country's neighbors, urging them to offer assistance.

"We also urge Cameroon and Republic of Congo to provide support to the Central African Republic in preserving this World Heritage Site, which not only encompasses the Bai, but also includes large neighboring areas of these two countries.

"Finally, ivory consumer country governments, and notably China and Thailand, must redouble their efforts to end demand - the root cause of the extermination of elephants across Africa."