Under Pressure

In February in the Dzanga Sangha Protected Area in the Central African Republic there were 40 regular patrols conducted involving 88 rangers. 

That's a total of 1,597 rangers days covering 1,840 km on foot. The ranger teams recovered 5 manufactured 12-gauge firearms, and 8 homemade firearms, with ammunition, along with 52 kg of illegal wild meat. They dismantled 1,133 metal snares.

Despite their best efforts, one elephant was killed leading to the arrest of two suspects.1 gorilla, a silverback, was also found dead - killed by a single bullet. This is the first gorilla killed by poachers in DSPA for many years.

This is what the teams are up against - and it's relentless. Every month we read the report and every month it's very similar.

In January for example, 40 patrols seized 11 manufactured 12-gauge firearms, and 6 homemade firearms, with ammunition,  along with 819 kg of illegal wild meat. They dismantled 1,159 metal snares.  2 elephant carcasses were found in January, and 5 suspects arrested.

Each month, without fail, the rangers are out on foot patrol. Conditions can be challenging so it's physically tough as well as mentally.  They put themselves in the path of danger to protect the forest on a regular basis. 

Images: DSPA / Alice Peretie