African Parks takes on the Chinko Project in the Central African Republic

Cynthia Walley / 4 days ago

African Parks has taken on the management of the Chinko Project in the Central African Republic (CAR). The Chinko Project, through a public private partnership with the Central African Republic Ministry of Forestry, the Environment and Tourism, has a mandate to manage this important protected area for 50 years.

This brings to eight the number of national parks and protected areas that African Parks manages through public private partnerships with governments, wildlife authorities and communities and the total area of land under its protection to 5.9 million hectares. It also brings the organisation closer to its expansion goal to manage 20 strategically-selected national parks and protected areas by 2020 across a range of identified biomes.

Situated in the east of the Central African Republic, the Chinko Project comprises 17 600 km² of uninhabited Medio-Sudanian and Sudano Guinean savannah with some patches of Congolian rain forest and it is this mix of ecosystems that accounts for its unique and rich biodiversity. Recent research documented more than 10 primate species, both forest and savannah elephants, 23 even-toed ungulates, four ant-eating mammals, 21 carnivores including the African wild dog, lion and mongoose as well as 280 bird species.

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Elephant slaughter in aftermath of coup in Central African Republic

Field reports indicate slaughter of elephants, conservation staff evacuated

April 2013. WWF and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have received alarming reports from their field operations that elephants are being slaughtered in the violence-ridden Central African Republic (CAR), where the new government struggles to gain control over the situation. The conservation organizations have issued a joint call for immediate action.

Michel Djotodia seized power in Central African Republic in March in a coup when he lead a rebel force that overthrew the government. 

Extensive elephant slaughter

Due to the violence and chaos in the area, the exact number of elephants slaughtered is not known, however initial reports indicate it may be extensive. WWF has confirmed information that forest elephants are being poached near the Dzanga-Sangha protected areas, a World Heritage Site. Elephant meat is reportedly being openly sold in local markets and available in nearby villages. The security situation is preventing park staff from searching the dense forest for elephant carcasses. 

The two organizations, WWF and WCS that have worked in CAR since the 1980s, are calling on the Central African Republic and its neighbours to immediately increase security in the region to protect the area's people and elephants. Governments are meeting next week at an extraordinary meeting to discuss ways to stop the poaching that has plagued the region. Up to 30,000 elephants are killed in Africa each year for their ivory tusks, which are in demand in Asia. 

The following statements have been issued by WWF and WCS: 

Jim Leape, WWF Director General said: "The elephant poaching crisis - driven by insatiable ivory demand - is so severe that no area is safe, not even the World Heritage Site Dzanga-Sangha where both WWF and WCS have now worked for the conservation of elephants for decades. Heroic rangers are standing firm in the face of immense danger, but they alone cannot safeguard the special species and places the world treasures. When meeting next week, Central African governments must urgently join forces against this criminal activity that is also threatening the stability and economic development of their countries. I encourage them in the strongest terms to take a stand against wildlife crime and together declare that poaching and illicit trafficking will not be tolerated." 

Continued: http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/car-elephants.html