Source: BBC.co.uk
Poachers are taking advantage of instability in the Central African Republic (CAR) to kill more endangered elephants, wildlife campaigners say.
Eight organisations have called for action following reports of elephant meat being sold openly in markets.
Armed rebels seized power and ousted President Francois Bozize in March after a peace deal collapsed.
Wildlife park staff say the security situation is preventing them from searching forests for animal carcasses.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said its offices in the protected Dzanga-Sangha area had been looted three times in the past month and it had pulled out workers.
'Fearing the worst'
The UNESCO World Heritage Site has been home to an estimated 3,400 forest elephants, which are smaller than those on the African savannahs.
But a recent study, lead by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), showed forest elephant numbers had decreased by 62% across Central Africa over the last 10 years. More....
Poachers are taking advantage of instability in the Central African Republic (CAR) to kill more endangered elephants, wildlife campaigners say.
Eight organisations have called for action following reports of elephant meat being sold openly in markets.
Armed rebels seized power and ousted President Francois Bozize in March after a peace deal collapsed.
Wildlife park staff say the security situation is preventing them from searching forests for animal carcasses.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) said its offices in the protected Dzanga-Sangha area had been looted three times in the past month and it had pulled out workers.
'Fearing the worst'
The UNESCO World Heritage Site has been home to an estimated 3,400 forest elephants, which are smaller than those on the African savannahs.
But a recent study, lead by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), showed forest elephant numbers had decreased by 62% across Central Africa over the last 10 years. More....
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