The Elephant population in Babile sanctuary in South East Ethiopia is facing extinction, dwindling from 1000 elephants 13 years ago to 215 now.
Representative of the sanctuary Woizero Fetiya Assema cited illegal hunting; new settlements in the park and security problems are key contributing factors to the alarming decline of Elephant population in the sanctuary.
Kumera Wakjira, Director of Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation Authority, is cited as saying that work is underway with different stakeholders to control illegal hunting and trafficking of wild animals.
In February 2022, there had been a similar report over possible extinction of the elephant population after over 10 elephants were killed in a span of six months.
Illegal hunting, new settlements, deforestation, mining activity and expansion of grazing land to the area were among the factors cited for the decline of the elephant population in the area, wakjira said.
Hagos Tizazu who was working in the sanctuary at the time reported the number of elephant population reached 300, down from 682 counted over a 12 year period.
The Babile Elephant Sanctuary which covers a 6982 kilometer square area was established in 1978. It is also home to 231 bird species and 31 mammals.
In a related development, Mulaw Shiferaw, head of Altash Park, reported a decreasing buffalo population in the park.
MG/abj/APA