Park director Rian Labuschagne says for the first time in years, Zakouma National Park's largest herd stayed inside the park instead of migrating beyond its boundaries. A potential sign the herd has adapted to poaching threats outside the park.
The threat of poaching for elephants —
Park director Rian Labuschagne says for the first time in years, Zakouma National Park's largest herd stayed inside the park instead of migrating beyond its boundaries. A potential sign the herd has adapted to poaching threats outside the park.
Brent Swails/CNN
Zakouma's elephant population has been decimated by poaching. In 2002, there were more than 4,000 elephants in the park, today there are just 450.
The threat of poaching for elephants —
Zakouma's elephant population has been decimated by poaching. In 2002, there were more than 4,000 elephants in the park, today there are just 450.
Brent Swails/CNN
Tracking the elephants on foot usually results in walking well behind in the herd's dust trail. It took the CNN crew several days to get close enough to film Zakouma's new born calves.
The threat of poaching for elephants —
Tracking the elephants on foot usually results in walking well behind in the herd's dust trail. It took the CNN crew several days to get close enough to film Zakouma's new born calves.
Brent Swails/CNN
Nomadic herders prepare a slaughtered goat. The area surrounding Zakouma is dotted with nomad tents and their livestock. The terrain is rugged, lawless and largely inaccessible by car, making it ideal for poachers.
The threat of poaching for elephants —
Nomadic herders prepare a slaughtered goat. The area surrounding Zakouma is dotted with nomad tents and their livestock. The terrain is rugged, lawless and largely inaccessible by car, making it ideal for poachers.
Brent Swails/CNN
A member of Zakouma's newly formed rapid response team patrols the plains surrounding the park's border. The team was formed by park management to take on an increasingly militarized poaching threat.
The threat of poaching for elephants —
A member of Zakouma's newly formed rapid response team patrols the plains surrounding the park's border. The team was formed by park management to take on an increasingly militarized poaching threat.
Brent Swails/CNN
18-year-old Issa Idris visits, for the first time, the site where his father was killed by Sudanese poachers. Evidence recovered from the poacher's camp shows links to the Sudanese military.
The threat of poaching for elephants —
18-year-old Issa Idris visits, for the first time, the site where his father was killed by Sudanese poachers. Evidence recovered from the poacher's camp shows links to the Sudanese military.
Djimet Seid returns to the spot where six of his fellow African Parks employees were gunned down by Sudanese poachers.
The threat of poaching for elephants —
Djimet Seid returns to the spot where six of his fellow African Parks employees were gunned down by Sudanese poachers.
Brent Swails/CNN
Djimet Seid is the lone survivor of the Heban attack, the site where six rangers were killed by poachers. He and others had emerged for morning prayers when they were ambushed. The poachers fired from three separate locations. Seid was wounded, but escaped by jumping off the side of a cliff and waiting until nightfall to seek help.
The threat of poaching for elephants —
Djimet Seid is the lone survivor of the Heban attack, the site where six rangers were killed by poachers. He and others had emerged for morning prayers when they were ambushed. The poachers fired from three separate locations. Seid was wounded, but escaped by jumping off the side of a cliff and waiting until nightfall to seek help.
Brent Swails/CNN
A lone marker in Heban. Zakouma's director, Rian Labuschagne, says the assault was revenge for an African Park raid on the poachers camp.
The threat of poaching for elephants —
A lone marker in Heban. Zakouma's director, Rian Labuschagne, says the assault was revenge for an African Park raid on the poachers camp.
Brent Swails/CNN
The elephants of Zakouma once migrated along the same routes as the area's nomads. This year, the herd has instead descended further into the park's interior, perhaps seeking the relative safety it provides.
The threat of poaching for elephants and rangers —
The elephants of Zakouma once migrated along the same routes as the area's nomads. This year, the herd has instead descended further into the park's interior, perhaps seeking the relative safety it provides.
Brent Swails/CNN