Elephants Vanish from Sambisa Forest Due to Poaching and Habitat Destruction

The government had initially hoped that the elephants would migrate to Sambisa forest, which is considered a more habitable area.

A recent survey conducted by the Borno State government has revealed that elephants are no longer present in the Sambisa forest, a region once known for its diverse wildlife. The Director of Forestry and Wildlife in the Ministry of Environment, Mr Ayuba Peter, made this disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria.

According to Mr Peter, the last survey conducted before the Boko Haram insurgency showed that elephants were no longer found in the forest. The survey revealed that poaching and habitat destruction had significantly depleted the elephant population. “We used to have a herd of elephants in Sambisa forest, but due to poaching and other habitat destruction, we have lost them,” he said.

The official further explained that the absence of elephants from the forest was a major concern for the government. However, recent reports of elephant sightings in neighboring Cameroon forests have sparked hope that they may be returning to the area. “When we started having reports of their incursions from a neighboring Cameroon forest into Borno, through Gamboru/Ngala and Kala-Balge axis, we were excited,” Mr Peter said.

The government had initially hoped that the elephants would migrate to Sambisa forest, which is considered a more habitable area. However, so far, they have continued to roam around the border areas, destroying farmlands but not moving into Sambisa forest.

The findings of the survey serve as a stark reminder of the impact of human activities on wildlife populations. The absence of elephants in Sambisa forest is a significant loss for the region’s biodiversity and highlights the need for concerted efforts to protect and conserve wildlife habitats.