VIDEO: better training and equipping rangers may give African forest elephants a fighting chance

In order to support the Congolese authorities in their efforts to reinforce the protection of the forest elephants that have become the preferred target of poachers and callous traffickers, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has supported the fight against poaching within Odzala –Kokoua National Park since 2011.

More than 40 eco-guards and managers were trained in anti-poaching techniques over a two month period, and then evaluated in February 2012. IFAW equipped the guards fully by providing them with military uniforms as well as sophisticated communication tools.

Arms and ammunition are provided by the Congolese government.

At the beginning of June 2012, IFAW organized a national workshop to improve the prevention of the illegal ivory trade; this event brought together all the national agencies involved in the fight against ivory trafficking as well as magistrates from Brazzaville and Ouesso. 

--CSB

For more information about our efforts to protect elephants from the illegal trade in their ivory, visit our campaign page.