U.N. Report Links Elephant Poaching to Terrorism, Weapons Proliferation

Amid intensifying threats to regional peace and security brought by Central Africa's heavily-armed elephant poaching gangs, the United Nations and the World Wildlife Fund have expressed grave concern, calling for a strengthening of law enforcement and criminal justice.

The U.N. Security Council, the world's highest international security body, was presented with a report highlighting the escalating threat to the Central African region brought on by elephant poachers.

"Poaching and its potential linkages to other criminal, even terrorist, activities constitute a grave menace to sustainable peace and security in Central Africa," U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon wrote in the report.

Ki-moon said increasing links between elephant poaching, the spread of weapons and regional instability are all interrelated.

"Illegal ivory trade may currently constitute an important source of funding for armed groups," the report states. "Also of concern is that poachers are using more and more sophisticated and powerful weapons, some of which, it is believed, might be originating from the fallout in Libya."

"The spread of cross-border poaching in Central Africa and its links to sophisticated armed groups is alarming. We have seen the devastating impact of this crime in too many countries," said WWF International Director General Jim Leape in a statement. "I echo Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's deep concern for the security of the region."

The report presented to the Security Council can be read here.

Earlier this month, poachers impersonating members of the Central African Republic's transitional government force killed at least 26 elephants in Dzanga-Ndoki National Park, a World Heritage Site known as the "village of elephants."

"To ensure peace, security and prosperity in Central Africa, efforts must be taken at the highest level to combat wildlife trafficking. I urge the governments of Central Africa to strengthen enforcement and criminal justice responses to wildlife crime and to address the linkages between it and other international crimes," Leape said.

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