No one had seen the “ghost elephant” of Niokolo-Koba National Park in over half a decade. That is, until now. Trail cameras recently recorded proof that this elusive African elephant, Ousmane, is still alive and wandering around in Niokolo-Koba National Park, a protected area of southeastern Senegal.
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Panthera and Senegal’s National Parks Directorate (DPN) released the trail-cam footage, saying it’s the first video of Ousmane since 2020. Ousmane, named after a park ranger, is called a “ghost elephant” because he’s a mere figment of a once-booming elephant population. In fact, Panthera says Ousmane could be the very last of his kind in this area.
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“When last spotted in January 2020, Ousmane was considered one of only five to 10 elephants remaining in the park — a stark contrast to the hundreds that once roamed here and a reminder of the devastating impacts of poaching and habitat loss,” Panthera wrote in a statement. “Photos and DNA analysis suggest he might now be the last.”
Panthera believes there is hope for this solitary creature, saying: “This sighting has sparked discussions on what can be done to protect the elephant and the technical feasibility of translocating a group of female and male elephants to restore a breeding population in Niokolo-Koba National Park.”
See trail-cam footage of this rare “ghost elephant” here:
Header stock image by Aida Servi/Getty Images
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