Elephants in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique, feed at sunset.ROBERT PRINGLEA study in Nature published yesterday (January 10) examines the effects of armed conflict on at-risk wildlife populations and species. More than 70 percent of conservation parks in Africa were affected by war between 1946 and 2010, and wildlife population growth rates declined when conflict occurred. Conservation efforts following conflict could help save at-risk populations, the study suggests: post-conflict efforts in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique and in Akagera National Park in Rwanda were linked to improved conservation outcomes.

J. Daskin, R. Pringle, “Warfare and wildlife declines in Africa’s protected areas,” Nature, doi:10.1038/nature25194, 2017.

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