“Borno Official: Sambisa Forest No Longer Home to Elephants”

The Borno State government has confirmed that there are currently no elephants in the Sambisa Forest. Mr. Ayuba Peter, Director of Forestry and Wildlife at the Ministry of Environment, informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that recent surveys have shown a complete absence of elephants in the area.

Peter explained that the elephant population in Sambisa Forest was severely depleted before the Boko Haram insurgency due to poaching and habitat destruction. Although there had been hopes that elephants migrating from neighboring Cameroon might settle in Sambisa, they have remained in the border areas and have been causing damage to farmlands but have not moved into the forest.

The director emphasized that the last survey confirmed there are no elephants currently residing in Sambisa Forest.