Sambisa forest elephant population decimated by poaching

The Borno government says elephants are absent in the Sambisa forest.

The Director, Forestry and Wildlife in the Ministry of Environment, Mr Ayuba Peter, told the News Agency of Nigeria that the last government survey regarding the presence of elephants in the forest showed none.

He said, “We conducted a survey before the Boko Haram insurgency and found that its population has been depleted by activities of poachers.

“We used to have a herd of elephants in Sambisa forest, but due to poaching and other habitat destruction, we have lost them.

“When we started having reports of their incursions from a neighbouring Cameroon forest into Borno, through Gamboru/Ngala and Kala-Balge axis, we were excited.

“Our hope was that they would proceed to Sambisa forest and probably find a more habitable place.

“So far, they have continued to roam around the border areas destroying farmlands but without moving down to Sambisa.”