Poachers Kill Last Remaining Elephant in Badingilo National Park
(JUBA) – Conservation authorities have confirmed that the final remaining elephant in Badingilo National Park was killed by poachers. The death of the 20 year old bull elephant marks the total disappearance of the species from the protected area. The park, which covers a territory six times larger than the Maasai Mara in Kenya, no longer holds a resident elephant population.
The elephant was well known to researchers and had been photographed as recently as last year during an assessment by the African Parks Network. Because there were no other elephants left in the park, the bull had been living in isolation and was frequently seen travelling with a herd of giraffes for social company. Ranger teams discovered the carcass of the animal last month with its tusks removed, which is a clear sign of illegal ivory hunting.
The loss of this animal represents a significant setback for the wildlife sector in South Sudan. While other parts of Africa are dealing with rising elephant numbers and land competition, the situation in Badingilo shows a complete collapse of the population. Experts say the park has faced many difficulties, including a lack of security and limited numbers of staff to stop illegal hunting.
A five year plan to restore and protect the wider migratory landscape is estimated to require significant funding. Without high levels of investment and stronger protection, other species in the park remain at high risk of meeting the same fate.
Journalists who tracked the bull elephant described its death as a sad symbol of the challenges facing South Sudan. Although the country still hosts a massive migration of nearly six million antelope, the loss of its iconic large mammals like the elephant is a blow to future tourism hopes. Conservationists are now calling for more support to ensure that the remaining wildlife in Badingilo does not vanish.
