After six years, an incredibly rare animal has been seen once again in Senegal’s Niokolo-Koba National Park. The images are indisputable, and the camera taking the photo contrasts the surrounding pitch-black environment against the “ghost elephant.”
The elephant has been seen on occasion, but sightings are rare. The elephant in question has been named Ousmane, and was lost spotted back in 2019. It is the only of its kind in the entire region.
The Ghost Elephant
While many might hear the rumors of a ghost elephant and dismiss them as myths, they are very much a real, although exceedingly rare, occurrence.
The unique elephants seem to live all by themselves in isolation and are often thought to be the last remaining survivors of destroyed herds. The future of the ghost elephant is uncertain as they face unprecedented risks from habitat loss and poaching.
Niokolo-Koba National Park
In Senegal, Niokolo-Koba National Park sits as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once housed hundreds of elephants that roamed freely.
However, looking at the area today paints a grim picture, as the population has dramatically declined and edged the remaining members to the brink of extinction. The park sits as the last bastion for an extremely endangered species in Senegal.
A Haunting Image Captured
Panthera is a global conservation group dedicated to protecting and monitoring wildlife. They are a Directorate of the National Park and have were the ones to capture the haunting footage of Ousmane.
The camera was recording like it always does when the white elephant lumbered into the frame. He was all by himself and has become a terrible reminder of the loss in the region. However, many also see him as a symbol of resilience.
Few Remain
Niokolo-Koba in Senegal once had large elephant herds that moved around the region. Some estimates put its population at 450 members, but by 2019, the number was a shadow of that.
In the last six years, there was an estimated five to ten elephants left in the region, and with sightings so infrequent, many believe that Ousmane could be the last survivor. The reason why the population has been decimated is poaching, habitat encroachment, and human conflict.
Is He Really Alone?
Researchers are trying to find out whether or not Ousmane really is the last elephant in the region, and to do this, they’ve studied DNA from dung found.
The sad reality is that through this method, they have not found any evidence that points to other elephants in the area.
Conservation Actions
In order to combat the rampant poaching, both Senegal’s park authorities and Panthera increased anti-poaching measures with patrols and monitoring. Since the changes in 2017, other species have seen a rise in population, showcasing that they are working.
The West African lion’s numbers have gone up two times in the last few years. However, the measures may have come too late for the elephant population.
A Difficult Choice
Park authorities face a unique dilemma. If Ousmane is the only elephant left, then a possible solution would be to migrate female elephants to the park to try to find him mating partners.
This would, in theory, help bolster the population. However, the process is not without risks, and it could be a logistical nightmare. It could be the only shot they have at ensuring the elephants don’t die out for good.
Other Cases
Ousmane may be alone in his region, but he isn’t the only known ghost elephant that live in small populations across West Africa, often having fewer than five members in a herd.
These elephants need expansive and secure habitats away from encroachment and poachers. Without aggressive anti-poaching measures, these populations could vanish as well.
What Happens Next?
The future of Ousmane and the elephants of Niokolo-Koba National Park
is bleak. The real truth is that intervention is necessary through either NGOs, governments, or public action.
The image of Ousmane is a warning that we can’t afford to ignore. If nothing proactive is done, then the ghost elephant will fade into memory, and all we’ll be left with are the haunting videos of Ousmane, which are reminders of a region once full of elephants.
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