Zakouma National Park, located in Chad, a landlocked country in north central Africa, was established in 1963 and was the first national park declared in the country. The park encompasses an area of almost 3000 square kilometers (1200 square miles) and is situated within the Bahr Salamat Faunal Reserve, providing habitat for lion and elephant, as well as over 50 other species of mammals and birds. In an effort to continue preservation of the park, the Chadian government recently nominated Zakouma National Park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a distinction of “outstanding value to humanity.”

While in the park, elephants are protected by the Chadian government and the EU. However, during the wet season, from May to October, a large percentage of the population leaves the park in search of food, and therefore has no protection from poachers. In addition, the political and social conflicts in the area continue to challenge conservation efforts.

WILD has taken a rapid response approach to address the recent elephant poaching. WILD will work with the Chadian government and local park rangers to deter and detain poachers using an anti poaching surveillance aircraft. The aircraft will run surveillance missions twenty hours per week, focusing on park boarders and known migration corridors. This critical action comes at a very strategic time, both in terms of saving the elephant population in Chad and bringing international awareness to the issue of illicit elephant poaching and ivory trading.

As this is a program which has arisen due to a crisis situation, WILD needs help in supporting the “rapid response” purchase, management and maintenance of the aircraft surveillance program. We’ve partnered with the Wildlife Conservation Society who will now operate a major field project in the area. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is helping WILD and WCS to initiate this effort, and the Disney Conservation Fund and The Tapeats Foundation are providing additional support.

Please join the team! Your donation will directly support operation of the surveillance aircraft, routine maintenance on the aircraft and action, as needed, when poaching sites are found. The endangered elephants of Zakouma need our help and we are determined to take action, please help today >>>