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Reinnier Kaze / AFP - Getty Images
Cameroonian soldiers patrol on Dec. 15 during a field trip organized for the press at Bouba N'Djidda National Park in northern Cameroon.
BOUBA NDJIDA NATIONAL PARK, Cameroon - The welcome committee for Cameroon's Bouba Ndjida National Park, a former safari tourism destination, would not look out of place on a battlefield.
Faced with the threat of horse-mounted Sudanese elephant poachers armed with machine guns, the central African nation has deployed military helicopters and 600 soldiers to try to protect the park and its animals.
Its decision to call in the army follows a bloody incursion into the park last winter during which poachers from Sudan killed some 300 elephants, or 80 percent of the park's elephant population, within a few weeks.
Armed only with World War One-era rifles, the park's eco-guards were defenseless in the face of the Sudanese "jandjaweed" poachers who had traveled thousands of miles on horseback to seize the tusks.
The raid left hundreds of elephant corpses in its wake.
Elephants slaughtered, orphan found in latest Africa poaching
Many of the animals' faces had been hacked off and the bodies lay decomposing in a park that used to attract safari tourists in large numbers.
Cameroon says it is determined to make sure such a scene is never repeated.
"With the kind of deployment we have in the park here today, the message is very clear," Brigadier General Martin Tumenta told Reuters during a visit to the park. "Any poacher who finds himself here will simply be destroyed."
Boubandjida Safari Lodge via AP
The carcasses of elephants slaughtered by poachers are seen in Boubou Ndjida National Park, located in Cameroon, near the border with Chad, in this February 2012 photo.
Tens of thousands of elephants likely killed last year, experts say
Equipped with helicopters, night vision gear, and scores of jeeps, Cameroon's military has set up two garrisons in the park and several camps along Cameroon's border with Chad and the Central African Republic, Tumenta said.
Last winter's massacre followed a record year for elephant poaching in 2011, an illegal trade that has become a multi-billion dollar industry in Africa fueled by demand for ivory ornaments from China, some of whose citizens are increasingly wealthy.
Just days after Rock Center aired Harry Smith's report, "The Last Stand," on the growing epidemic of illegal rhino poaching in South Africa, three of the rhinos featured in the report were attacked by poachers. Rock Center's Harry Smith reports.
Ivory sells for about $135 a pound on the black market, according to conservation group TRAFFIC, meaning that an average-sized tusk weighing can be sold for more than $2,000 -- a small fortune in central Africa, a region plagued by poverty and underdevelopment.
Officials said there was evidence that the Sudanese poachers were on their way back to the park - a territory of lush forests, rivers and hilly plains about the size of Luxembourg - now that the dry season had arrived, making travel easier.
"Tomorrow will be simply too late," Prince William warns as Africa's magnificent wild animals are mercilessly and illegally poached at a rate not seen for decades.
"It is clear we are dealing with a very heavily-armed group of men carrying machine guns and mortars," said Tumenta, saying soldiers had seized some weapons and ivory from a poacher camp in the bush last year.
The World Wildlife Fund has called Cameroon's deployment a "bold and courageous move" to protect the region's dwindling elephant population.
However, local residents said the huge military presence was disturbing.
"It's now very dangerous because of the soldiers who are just everywhere in the bush," said Saidou Sule, a 48-year-old farmer from a village near Garoua, the provincial capital.
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Leave a Comment:
Some one has finally got the right idea! Send a very large picture to the poachers that they will not live to spend the money for their disasterly killings!
"However, local residents said the huge military presence was disturbing."
Now we know which side they're on.
this evil starts with money. anyone who buys ivory products is immoral scum. Greed perpetrates the killings of all wildlife including elephants, rhinos, turtles, you name it, based on status or misinformed voodoo ideas. we are powerless except if we stop buying the products that these countries who buy these animal products produce; i.e., the chinese. But, this would need to be a massive and collective boycott to send a message and i don't see that happening ever. Say goodbye to these magnificent animals in the wild.
It is a good start, better would be to get an international ban on ivory trade, with a trade embargo against any country that tolerates even the smallest ivory market. That means a trade war with China, which is an absolute must anyway.
Also, I would be in favor of using biological agents to not only eradicate poachers and their bases of operation, but to infect ivory already in transit. This would end the trade of working in ivory right quick.
Robin (#1.3): There IS an international ban on ivory trade... The problem has been the demand from the sick people who just plain don't care, and the low numbers of officials (with limited weaponry) in the game parks to combat the heavily armered poachers who have no problem slaughtering people along with the animals. It's about time someone took action like this.
China allows ivory imports.
cheetah, I suspect he meant it's disturbing when there are hundreds of armed men in the area not that he was for the poachers. I'd be a little nervous too living in a battle zone.
Washington distruster...the average death by firearms in the United States is 6.5 per 100,000 and in some locales (Washington DC) it's 21.2 per 100,000 kinda of a war zone, but I digress.
The locals are concerned about a military presence in the park because 1.) African armies have a less than stellar reputation in regards to their treatment of the civilian population, 2.) the locals are very likely engaged in either tusk smuggling or some other contraband, and 3.) the presence of an armed force can often lead to an escalation in the use of force.
Its way past time for the idiot govt officials to finally decide to send in the army---only after approx 90% of the elephants have been killed. Now if they can just kill 100% of the scumbag poachers and print their photos in every African newspaper, all will be good.
Oh, is it not past time to drop diplomatic relations with the criminal rogue nation of China, who are international outlaws in every aspect of civilized society????
I W T, tell that to the big American Corporations making billions of dollars off the low wages. Personally, China has left a sour taste in my mouth and for the life of me don't understand how this country has sent all our jobs oversees.
That wasn't sent from your iPhone, was it? :)
Right. but unless we stop the cancer from which it starts (china) we are only putting a band - aid on the whole disgusting issue.. Let's poach, literally, where it starts! Fine by me.
They should check the Cameroon official basements and see how much ivory is in there...I hope this is not just surface stuff
Too bad they don't have oil or ship marijuana to the US otherwise the US government might give a shiiiiit.
That's where we should use drones. Empty the parks of poachers.
Thank God one Gov. has finally stepped up. Thank you! If more troops are needed do send more! All these poachers in your country and poachers anywhere need to DIE. Poachers are nothing but scum.
Poach all poachers - place a Bounty on the heads of poachers - shoot to kill all poachers- hunt and exterminate all poachers -and reward the 'poacher hunters' generously - If the poachers (murderers ) are not stopped then there will be no such thing as an elephant ,rhino , tiger, lion, or many other animals -except a dozen in some zoo ! They will be extinct .The poachers will kill them all . they are cold primitive devils ,selfish brainless heartless , blood lust killers only wanting money for the moment -they are blind evil beasts that poach for enjoyment, the thrill of killing and profit. PUT A Dead on Sight order on all poachers. Hunt the poachers -seek and find and kill them immediately .Or else they will kill all the wildlife in Africa.
I don't think I can add much to your comments except to say I agree with you 1000%. People this evil don't deserve to even breathe. All efforts should be used to remove them from the planet and send them to hell where they belong.
Don"t kill them. Take their guns, wound them and leave them in the bush for the animals to feed on. Gut shooting them with a .22 Hollow Point would be good.
the US Government could have stopped this with a snap of a finger. I agree with Jenner Wernerr...
As for the janjaweed - money or not, people choose whether they are going to be good or bad. (A decent human being wouldn't kill or eagerly engage in routine cruelty for ANY amount of money)... What the heck is up with the disproportionate amount of pure EVIL in Africa??? Seriously? Where is God?
Don't blame God. This is a problem rooted entirely in humans and their stupidity.
The chinese need to be wiped of the face of the planet.
Why, Don't you like china and their people. extinction of a race, wow, Having a bad day..
I love it....keep an eye on your rhinos while your at it...
Hell ya!!
Great idea and kudos to the Cameroon government. Finally some serious repercussions to the poachers. It boggles the mind that countries that import the ivory allow it. What is wrong with them? Without individuals wanting trinkets and other crap, poaching would be a thing of the past. And for the men who want animal parts to increase their verility or size, give it up. You will always have 2 inches and no more. I don't care that you can't perform...nobody does. The world would rather see a rhino in the wild, elephant or a tiger than your sorry ass. Maybe our government should seriously look at trade embargos against some of these countries but I'm sure that's not going to happen when our government officials would rather be in bed with them.
maybe they should follow in the footsteps of the libtards to try banning assault rifles to reduce the killings /rolls eyes
Congratulations. You win the stupidest @!$%#ing statement of the day award.
Joseph Muhhamed is right behind you Bryan. Keep up the bad work. Wow look at that, another idiot voted for you also.
Where do I apply?
About time a government employes their army. It actually gets to this point when the safari tours become no more because the main attractions are gone or going. No more Elephants, Rhino's, Lions etc... what are people going to see---zebra's. Now, they are starting to see that tourism is hurting, plus the fact that these poachers (probably sent by the Asians) are basically coming their country and basically stealing all their natural resources. The use of military should be used in all these African nations to protect the wildlife, if not the Asians will wipe out everything. Look at the big picture------the Asian countries (mainly China, Japan, Korea) have Zero wildlife------most species have been wiped out over there. There are also minimal zoo's or protected areas too. Think about it------why is that??? Every animal species is either eaten or in some way used for traditional medicine (which is proven by technology that none of it works). They have no Rhino's, tigers, Elephants etc.... They could care less about the environment and nature! Point is this stupidity and ancient beliefs is the reason our wildlife is perishing. It's a big pyramid and the only way to stop it is catch these middle men from the Asian countries. Get them because they are the ones who fund the poachers and such. Another example if there is nobody buying Ivory or animal parts the African man who kills a Elephant wouldn't know what to do with the Tusk and therefore wouldn't kill it. Cut of the supply and demand!!!! You don't see Ivory or Animal parts used in medicine in the USA. We are actually 100% smarter than the Asians too and know that rubbing a horn or tiger penis isn't going to do anything especially when you can take a pill for less than $1 that will work. Some humans are just so dumb period! Hopefully other countries will jump on board and put their military to use. I know in a couple parts of India there was an article about protecting the Tigers and any poacher is shot on site. Hope its not just lip service.
Agreed! And, as Americans, we are always being told how intelligent the Asians are. what a crock. I work with many and i can tell you, some are smart, but on the whole, not at all intelligent. One example was a guy i worked with and he didn't know that driving his car slower would improve his gas mileage. he thought i was such a genius, and i was like, doesn't everyone know that? Yes, magical mike, many of them are still adhering to old fashioned, outdated, and archaic ideas. But, what is the solution and how do we change them? Of course, we have many stupid people in the u.s. just visit a medieval fair see the number of animal furs they sell there, many obtained (or so i was told by the vendor) legally from foreign suppliers in other countries such as Russia. you've seen those tails people are tacking onto their hats or their rearends? animals are killed for those.
Have you ever been to Japan? The whole country is an animal sanctuary! Don't be so stereotypical. We have places here in the US which do the same thing. You can hunt any animal of your choosing in WV at private game preserves. Same in Ohio, Montana, Colorado, N. Dakota, and those are only the ones I know of personally. I'm sure they exist in Texas and Arkansas etc, etc.
Typical American whom thinks all things bad happen outside of the US borders. Most things bad actually happen inside our borders, idiot. Start there if you want to make a stand.
you so right. and don't forget about how many rich folks from this country go to Africa to kill wildlife "legally". Google Trumps son kills elephant in africa.
This world's fukkinuts!
Seems like you like the way poachers treat the animals...I think your comment goes for yourself!!!
Death for poachers. Justice for the Elephants. The life of just one Elephant is worth the lives of a thousand poachers.
We can only hope.
It is about time the Army was deployed to protect a species that is being wiped out. This issue is simular to when we Americans almost wiped out the Buffalo. From millions of Buffalo that roamed the plains, we decimated that species within 20 years to several hundred. Only by eliminating the demand through laws and proative protective measures (the cavalry was assigned to protect the Buffalo by capturing [if possible] or killing [as a last resort] those who tried to poach) did we save the Buffalo. This issue also involves the sovereignty of a nation. If poachers have no fear of reprisal by entering another country to commit crimes then would they not show the same arrogance (entering and doing as they please as if it were their country) by committing other crimes such as murder or rape? And yes, I do believe that to cure the cause the Camaroon nation must address the supply and demand issues with any nation believed to have some part in the problem-solving issues whether that nation is part of the cause or can be an ally to the solution.
The American Bison was almost wiped out to defeat the greatest guerrilla army ever, the Native Americans. In my opinion. If they didn't have to worry about the women and children the Indian Wars would have stopped westward settlements (Civil War helped tremendously) and the loss of a food source "won" the west.
Can we put this kind of force behind our illegal immigration problem? Please.
Great news!! Poachers should be executed everywhere on our planet including here in USA!!!
It has become perfectly LOUD AND CLEAR that the only way to stop the elephant massacre is to KILL the bastard poachers, but not hidden from view, instead, burn them alive in the middle of the larger town squares. And above all, if the people who pay for the poaching are located, the same penalty applies!!! Kill them ¨monkeys¨to save the elephants and do it NOW!!!
What will the Chinese do when they have killed all the Elephants, Rhinos, Tigers, and Sharks, for "medicinal purposes"? Start on humans? Don't tell them a human heart or brain can make them live longer, become smarter, increase sex drive or fertility, they will stop at nothing to have it! If I went to China and requested orange flavored infant, they would find a way to get it for me! Superstitious fools, time to reintroduce the opium pipe into Chinese society...
Having recently retired, how do I enlist in the Cameroon army and get this assignment? I need something meaningful to do.
The poachers are being outfitted and supplied by China, since that is the main market for the ivory. The villagers are being paid off not to alert the rangers -- and now the militias -- so the poachers can operate freely among them. I hope the army has orders to 'shoot to kill' since the poachers will not hesitate to do the same to them if they are spotted.