The First Recorded Forest Elephants in South Sudan
Camera traps deployed last year in the deep tropical forests that span the border between South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo have provided an unprecedented insight to the wildlife this area contains. Images show what is thought to be one of the most northerly forest elephant groups ever recorded residing there. These have been reinforced by reliable sources that state larger numbers of forest elephant are sheltering in this area.
Conservation in these forests is essentially a blank canvas, with South Sudan offering the best access into this little known wilderness. Fauna and Flora International (FFI) began working in South Sudan in 2010, bringing its extensive experience of working in conflict and post-conflict countries. FFI and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) are the only international conservation organisations with an active presence in the country.
An Independent Nation
Despite the emergence of the Republic of South Sudan as an independent nation on 9 July 2011, the country’s wildlife faces continuous pressure. One of the most underdeveloped countries in the world, the illicit logging trade has flourished and the poaching situation exacerbated. WCS reported thirty-two elephants were killed in Warrap State bordering Southern National Park, in January and February this year.
The end of the conflict will not necessarily benefit the country’s wildlife as economic stresses bring pressure on the country’s natural resources. Further, the lack of infrastructure has allowed for the proliferation of cross-border markets serving as likely routes for wildlife trafficking.
FFI’s anti-poaching
Over the years, FFI has developed a team of trained Wildlife Service and Community Rangers, all committed to protecting the elephants of these forests. Although anti-poaching patrols have been underway for some time, ECF funding will allow these operations to expand and increase their effectiveness with the use of more sophisticated methods.
Between April and May, ranger patrols focused on anti-poaching and the management of camera traps deployed across the forest zone. Rangers recovered 24 camera traps following a 12-month cycle to analyze their data, and other cameras were sited into new areas to continue mapping the wildlife presence in the area.
Training those on the front line
In late April, 17 students successfully completed a four-day course of Ranger Continuation Training, supported by the State Ministry of Local Government and Law Enforcement and the State Wildlife Service. Run at FFI’s compound in Yambio the course aimed to increase student’s knowledge of technical equipment (GPS, maps and camera traps) and biodiversity in the forests. The course in particular focused on wildlife monitoring and the relationship between bush meat and emerging infectious diseases with the desired hope of improving the management of the game reserves. Plans are in place for further training and wildlife research during July.