Elephants No Longer Present in Sambisa Forest Due to Poaching

 

The Borno State government has reported that elephants are no longer found in the Sambisa Forest. According to Mr. Ayuba Peter, Director of Forestry and Wildlife in the Ministry of Environment, the most recent survey conducted by the government confirmed the absence of elephants in the area.

Peter explained that a survey conducted before the Boko Haram insurgency indicated that the elephant population in Sambisa Forest had been severely reduced due to poaching. "We once had a herd of elephants in Sambisa, but poaching and habitat destruction have led to their disappearance," he said.

He noted that there had been some hopeful signs when elephants were reported to be moving from a neighboring forest in Cameroon into Borno, passing through areas like Gamboru/Ngala and Kala-Balge. There was optimism that these elephants might eventually migrate to Sambisa Forest. However, despite their presence in the border regions and their impact on local farmlands, they have not ventured into Sambisa Forest.