National park group sounds alarm over poacher attacks on elephants in Congo's Garamba park
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A non-profit group running nature reserves in Africa has sounded the alarm over a months-long slaughter of elephants by poachers in one of Africa's oldest national parks.
The Johannesburg-based African Parks group says 68 elephants, or some 4 percent of the park's elephants, have been killed in the last two months in Congo's Garamba National Park.
Some of the elephants were shot from a helicopter and had their tusks removed with a chainsaw, along with their brains and genitals.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The group said poachers included renegade elements of the Congolese army, poachers from South Sudan, some wearing military uniforms, and members of the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group.
Garamba park manager Jean-Marc Froment said in the statement "the park is under attack from all fronts."