The International Union for Conservation of Nature says Cameroon has around 6,830 elephants, making it one of the largest groups of endangered animals left in Africa.
Elephant conservation efforts have increased in numbers in recent years. However, the loss of their habitat to the establishment of farms and villages sometimes causes them to roam human settlements, destroying crops, damaging homes, and sometimes attacking humans.
Jan Nimig, head of forests and wildlife, said 4 elephants attacked the town of Marwa, the capital of the Far North region, this week and the elephants ran over a child in a nearby village before that.
“The elephants moved around in search of water due to the arid nature of the area,” Niemig said, adding that the herd was first spotted near the border with Chad.
A video clip posted to social media showed people taking videos with their mobile phones, as the herd of elephants wandered on tarmac roads.
Niemig said rangers were trying to chase the elephants away and direct them to a national park about 120 km from Maroua.
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