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Poaching of forest elephants
In Mbomo,
illegal killing of elephants and possession of military guns and ammunitions
are detected almost every month. A part of villagers go into the forest
to kill elephants, running a risk of being arrested, and enduring physically
demanding walking for days, for getting cash income by selling ivory.
Smuggled ivory will be transported to the capital city Brazzaville, and shipped to Asia, Europe and West Africa. This is because there is a demand by those who see ivory as luxury goods. In Japan they still sell ivory seal stamps (hanko) in many shops. Do consumers of ivory around the world, including Japanese, know this poaching situation in elephants' habitat?
(Hunting of elephants is prohibited by Congolese law, and international trade of ivory is prohibited by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).)
Smuggled ivory will be transported to the capital city Brazzaville, and shipped to Asia, Europe and West Africa. This is because there is a demand by those who see ivory as luxury goods. In Japan they still sell ivory seal stamps (hanko) in many shops. Do consumers of ivory around the world, including Japanese, know this poaching situation in elephants' habitat?
(Hunting of elephants is prohibited by Congolese law, and international trade of ivory is prohibited by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora).)
He got
into the forest for poaching with his brother. He dared to get out of
the forest on rainy Sunday night, when eco-guards caught him.
These
ammunitions were confiscated in transport for being sold in Mbomo. To
kill elephants powerful military firearms are used.
Guns confiscated in the past are stored in the National Park office.
Cut
pieces of ivory confiscated in transport by a bicycle for the capital.
They were in a black bag on the left.
The
police and park officers are going to confiscate hidden ivory and ammunitions,
guided by arrested poachers. They walked deep into the forest of the park,
crossing a river by a brige of 'a fallen tree'. I could not believe that
I myself would cross this river, too, but managed to do it....
A poacher
is taking out ivory which was sunk in a muddy swamp. There were 10 tusks,
which means five elephants were killed. A policeman experienced such a
hard walk in the forest that he expressed resentment why they did such
a worthless thing.
Forest elephants in the Odzala National Park
Crop raiding by forest elephants
Smoked
elephant meat was confiscated when being carried to the village from the
forest. If it had not been detected, it would have been sold at the local
market secretly.
