Protecting Elephants from Poachers
Before the ivory trade was banned, many elephant populations were poached to the
brink of extinction. The African population dropped from 1.3 million to 450,000
during the late 1970s and 1980s.
In Uganda, for example, elephant numbers at Queen
Elizabeth National Park had been reduced to only 150. IFAW stepped in to help in
1987 by shipping six patrol trucks to Uganda to save elephants and other
wildlife from poachers. IFAW continued to work with the government of Uganda by
supporting anti-poaching efforts in Queen Elizabeth and Kidepo National
Parks.
Over the years, IFAW has provided operational funds to these parks to enhance security, improve communication systems, buy equipment and address human-wildlife conflicts. We have also contributed to community conservation and educational efforts.
Today, Uganda’s national parks and the wildlife within have experienced a miraculous recovery. Elephants at Queen Elizabeth National Park have recovered to 1,200. Although the parks still rely on our assistance for anti-poaching and upkeep efforts, Queen Elizabeth National Park is now considered to be Uganda’s finest.
In Kenya, IFAW has joined with Ker & Downey Safaris and their clients to help the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) protect and preserve Mt. Kenya National Park, a World Heritage Site and home to elephants, black rhinos, leopards, and a rich variety of bird and plant species.
Wildlife poaching in the forest is on the increase and habitat is threatened by logging and livestock grazing. Through this partnership, IFAW has provided rangers with training in field operations as well as supplies, including hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) units, rain gear, compasses, and tents.
In Malawi, IFAW has equipped 24 game scouts at the Liwonde Game Scout Training Center with everything from socks to sleeping bags to support anti-poaching teams. IFAW continues to support a well-equipped fence attendant system in Liwonde – Malawi’s most important national park – which has drastically reduced elephant poaching.
Unfortunately, exploiters often have the upper hand. Under-equipped and under-staffed African wildlife law enforcement agencies are easily outmaneuvered in their attempts to fight poaching by sophisticated crime syndicates operating freely across national borders.
The Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF) was established to reduce illegal trade in wildlife. Its cross-border investigative operations target the criminal syndicates behind trafficking rather than focusing on individual poachers.
IFAW has a strong partnership with LATF, and has supported specialized training of 25 officers from 11 African states at the KWS Training Institute, as well as operations in Uganda that led to the arrest of several illegal wildlife traders. We will continue to promote training efforts and other initiatives of the LATF to reduce illegal trade of animals on a continent-wide basis.
Over the years, IFAW has provided operational funds to these parks to enhance security, improve communication systems, buy equipment and address human-wildlife conflicts. We have also contributed to community conservation and educational efforts.
Today, Uganda’s national parks and the wildlife within have experienced a miraculous recovery. Elephants at Queen Elizabeth National Park have recovered to 1,200. Although the parks still rely on our assistance for anti-poaching and upkeep efforts, Queen Elizabeth National Park is now considered to be Uganda’s finest.
In Kenya, IFAW has joined with Ker & Downey Safaris and their clients to help the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) protect and preserve Mt. Kenya National Park, a World Heritage Site and home to elephants, black rhinos, leopards, and a rich variety of bird and plant species.
Wildlife poaching in the forest is on the increase and habitat is threatened by logging and livestock grazing. Through this partnership, IFAW has provided rangers with training in field operations as well as supplies, including hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) units, rain gear, compasses, and tents.
In Malawi, IFAW has equipped 24 game scouts at the Liwonde Game Scout Training Center with everything from socks to sleeping bags to support anti-poaching teams. IFAW continues to support a well-equipped fence attendant system in Liwonde – Malawi’s most important national park – which has drastically reduced elephant poaching.
Unfortunately, exploiters often have the upper hand. Under-equipped and under-staffed African wildlife law enforcement agencies are easily outmaneuvered in their attempts to fight poaching by sophisticated crime syndicates operating freely across national borders.
The Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF) was established to reduce illegal trade in wildlife. Its cross-border investigative operations target the criminal syndicates behind trafficking rather than focusing on individual poachers.
IFAW has a strong partnership with LATF, and has supported specialized training of 25 officers from 11 African states at the KWS Training Institute, as well as operations in Uganda that led to the arrest of several illegal wildlife traders. We will continue to promote training efforts and other initiatives of the LATF to reduce illegal trade of animals on a continent-wide basis.
;)
The evolutionary origins of elephants can be traced back to around 58 million years ago. Today, three species of modern elephants remain: the African savanna elephant and African forest elephant (only recently recognized as distinct species), and their smaller cousin, the Asian elephant.
Asia Map: Modified from The New Encyclopedia of Mammals, Oxford University Press 2001.
