Poachers Kill 26 African Elephants At World Heritage Site

At least 26 elephants were killed by a group of poachers impersonating members of the Central African Republic's transitional government force. The poachers entered part of Dzanga-Ndoki National Park known as the "village of elephants" and opened fire with high-caliber rifles, according to a report from the World Wildlife Fund.

The scene was described as a "elephant mortuary" by one source quoted by the WWF.

The confirmation of slaughtered elephants comes after initial reports that a group of 17 individuals, some armed with Kalashnikov rifles, entered part of the World Heritage Site called Dzanga Bai, where as many as 200 elephants are known to gather daily to drink mineral salts present in the sands there.

WWF reports their sources counted at least 26 elephant carcasses in and around the Bai, including four calves. Local villagers reportedly had started taking meat from the carcasses.

"The events in Dzanga Bai are a vivid reminder of the existential threat faced by forest elephants in Central Africa. Populations of this species have plummeted 62 percent over the past 10 years," said Jim Leape, WWF International Director General.

"The brutal violence we are witnessing in Dzanga Bai threatens to destroy one of the world's great natural treasures, and to jeopardize the future of the people who live there."

Dr. Anna Feistner from WWF who has been based in the area for the past three years told BBC 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 are widespread.

According to the WWF, the poachers entered the densely-forested national park, which lies on a triangle of land in the Central African Republic between Cameroon and Congo, and asked local researchers for food and directions to the viewing tower at the Bai, which is used by scientist and tourists to observe elephants.

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

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 when word of the incident first broke earlier this week.

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

Leape called upon the Central African Republic's neighbors to come to aid, as well as for the people of China and Thailand, who generate much of the demand for ivory, to change their ways.

"WWF also asks Cameroon and the Republic of Congo to assist 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.

"The unfolding tragedy in Dzanga Bai must also spur the governments of China and Thailand to act on their commitments to shut down the ivory markets in their countries that are fueling this illicit trade."