HEAVILY ARMED POACHERS AT GARAMBA IN CONGO


Heavily-armed poachers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have
slaughtered half of the world's last population of wild northern
white rhino over the past year, the World Conservation Union (IUCN)
reported.

"The results of a recent survey of the world's only wild population
of northern white rhinoceros in the Garamba National Park, DRC make
depressing news for anyone concerned about the survival of this
charismatic symbol of African wildlife," it said in a statement.

An aerial survey of the park, a world heritage site, carried out in
July this year, revealed there were between 17 and 22 of the
animals left.

Authorities estimate between 14 and 19 rhino have been killed by
poachers over the past 14 months.

Forty years ago there were an estimated 2,250 northern white
rhinoceros, spread across five African countries.
By 1984, civil unrest in these countries coupled with a demand for
rhino horn had reduced their numbers to a mere 15 animals, all in
the Garamba National Park.

"Increasing numbers of heavily-armed poaching gangs, including ones
from neighbouring Sudan, are known to be operating in the area and
are said to be responsible for the recent slaughter.

"The park's guards are struggling to contain this well-armed
insurgency, and several guards have lost their lives in anti-
poaching operations," the IUCN said.

The Garamba National Park was declared a world heritage site in
1980. It's immense savannahs, grasslands and woodlands, interspersed
with gallery forests along the river banks and swampy depressions,
are home to four large mammals, elephant, giraffe, hippopotamus, and
the northern white rhinoceros.