The program, based in the Ivory Coast, aims to capture elephants in areas of danger and safely relocate them to the haven of a national park.
Poaching and urban sprawl, possibly triggered by recent civil unrest, means the forest elephants’ traditional home of Marahoue National Park is not big or safe enough to live.
The big move has taken a week and cost about a quarter of a million dollars, but animal welfare advocate Celine Sissler-Bienvenu says she’s proud of the progress they have made.
“For the first time in Ivory Coast, and for the first time in West Africa and the world, we have been able to move forest elephants and we are all really happy with this first transfer," said Ms Sissler-Bienvenu at International Fund for Animal Welfare.
The Ivory Coast continues to build its reputation around its namesake but these days the tusks and the elephants are staying put.
