Animals driven out by logging have clashed with farmers in the Ivory Coast. They were rescued by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. An endangered species of African forest elephant (only about 100000 forest elephants remain in the wild) has destroyed farms and crops in Ivory Coast, prompting a threat of shooting from farmers. Elephants are driven out of their habitats by logging and drilling.
Forest elephants are popular with poachers due to the boom in the illegal ivory trade in China. Driven out of their habitat, the elephants have destroyed farms near Daloa, home to 170 people.
The mission of WWF was not easy, as elephants are very difficult to track in the dense forests. Unlike the larger savannah elephants, forest elephants live only in the jungles of central and western Africa, which is shaken by wars and heavy industry. Despite weighing up to five tons, elephants are not safe even in national parks, as poachers are actively involved in the illegal ivory trade in China.
To save the elephants, experts tracked them into the jungle near the city of Daloa and then sedated them with sedative darts.
Team member Neil Greenwood says: “We are dealing with a dangerous animal. These elephants are silent, you can literally turn a corner and stumble on it, and injury and death will follow.” Elephants hide under the forest cover, reaching 60 meters in height, it is very rare to see them up close.
Once captured, the elephants are taken 250 miles (400 km) to the Azagni National Park. Rescuers had to take chainsaws and picks with them to cut through the thickets, as well as two liters of washing liquid to move the sleeping elephants to the trailer. Then they were lifted by a huge crane onto a tow truck.
Workers at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) had to use a crane and a huge box in which the elephants would wake up, as well as two liters of washing liquid to move them.
Team member Dr. Andre Uys says: “It’s impossible to catch an elephant in the traditional way, like in the savannah.” Usually rescuers use helicopters, but then they were prevented by the dense African jungle. “The canopy of the virgin forest reaches 60 meters in height, which makes it impossible to fly by helicopter. It will be a very difficult task.”
In total, the organization plans to save about a dozen elephants, which will be relocated to the Azagni National Park and equipped with GPS collars to track movements.
The authorities of Côte d’Ivoire turned to the organization for help to avoid the death of elephants.
IFAW director Celine Sissler-Benvenue says: “The elephant is the national symbol of Côte d’Ivoire. Therefore, at the request of the government, local residents showed patience, allowing them to find a humane alternative to shooting.
“After exploring all possible solutions, we proposed to move the elephants to a safe place.” “If we want to save these endangered elephants, we need to act now during the dry season. This rescue mission solves a huge conservation problem and contributes to the safety and well-being of both humans and animals.”
The number of forest elephants is impossible to establish precisely, because the animals live very apart. Instead, scientists measure the amount of litter in each district.
This organization is not the first time the evacuation of elephants. In 2009, IFAW evacuated 83 savannah elephants caught in a deadly human-elephant conflict in Malawi. When the elephants are moved, they will wake up in their containers once the sedative wears off.
IFAW director Celine Sissler-Benvenue says: “If we want to save these endangered elephants, we need to act now during the dry season.” The charitable organization encourages donations to help with the mission.