Tens of thousands of elephant died while others fled during decades of war in South Sudan, a situation that leaves the species at the verge of extinction in the country.
A Wildlife Conservation Society report said that had over 130 thousand elephants in and the population of the huge mammals reduced to only 5,000 in the Game Parks and National Game reserves, Radio Emmanuel reported.
The elephants were spread in parks in the Country: 10,940 in the Southern National Game Park, 2,179 in Boma National Park, 3,938 in Sudd. Other elephant sanctities were in Nimule, Badingilo and Kidepo.
Eastern Equatoria Director for Wildlife Conservation Charles Laku attributed the decline of elephants in the country to the long wars.
He lamented that the animals remained prone to killers during the civil strife as institutions that were to offer protection to them at the time broke down.
He also cited high demands for elephant’s tusks to the widespread black markets of the Middle East, Far East, Europe, China and the West, as other factors that fuelled massive killing of elephants in South Sudan.
Lieutenant Colonel Laku lamented that poachers continue endangering the elephants by killing even those in protected area.
He said in Eastern Equatoria state alone, two elephants with electronic collars were recently found death in Riwoto, Kapoeta North County, and Lotukei, in Budi County, with the tusks removed.