Rare ‘Ghost Elephant’ Caught on Camera in Senegal After Years of Disappearance
For the first time in five years, a lone African forest elephant known as the “ghost elephant” has been caught on camera in Senegal’s Niokolo-Koba National Park in a haunting yet hopeful moment. recorded by a remote trail camera, the video shows the elusive bull elephant, Ousmane, stopping under the moonlight before disappearing back into the forest’s shadows. Ousmane may now be the last of his kind in Senegal, a sobering reminder of the terrible toll of poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict on Africa’s most iconic species, so this sighting has reignited excitement and urgency among conservationists.
The Phantom of Niokolo-Koba: A Species on the Brink
The term “ghost elephant” describes critically endangered African forest elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis), which survive in such limited numbers and have almost legendary connotations rather than a spectral apparition. Originally numbering in the hundreds in Senegal’s Niokolo-Koba National Park, their population has dropped to a single confirmed individual: Ousmane, after a beloved former park ranger. Though unverified local reports indicate some others may still roam invisible, DNA analysis indicates he may be the last of his kind in the nation.
Declared Critically Endangered by the IUCN in 2021, this subspecies is smaller and more elusive than its cousins from savannahs. Their fall reflects a larger crisis: mainly from ivory poaching and deforestation, West Africa has lost 96% of its elephant population since the colonial era.
A Glimmer of Hope in the Darkness
Image by Panthera and Senegal’s National Parks Directorate (DPN) via people.com
Ousmane’s grainy black-and- white video is evidence of resilience rather than only a once-occurrence. As part of a larger effort to track the park’s wildlife, conservationists from Panthera’s and Senegal’s National Parks Directorate (DPN) set up camera traps. Ousmane, last seen in 2019 was among an estimated 5 to 10 remaining elephants; now, he might be the only survivor.
Still, there is some cautious hope. Should Ousmane be the last, Philipp Henschel, Director of West and Central Africa for Panthera, points out that a daring scheme involving moving a herd of female elephants to create a fresh breeding population of 15 could be implemented. Other species in the park, including West African lions, whose numbers have more than doubled since 2011, have also been revived with similar initiatives.
The Park’s Remarkable Recovery And Lingering Threats
Story of Niokolo-Koba is one of both tragedy and rebirth. Originally bursting with life, the park was included on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger in 2007 because of extensive habitat destruction and poaching. It was removed from the list in 2024, though, following $6 million in conservation funds, enhanced anti-poaching patrols, and scientific monitoring.
Nowadays, some of the rarest species in Africa find refuge in the park:
- Among the two last populations of West African lions
- The biggest leopard population still existing in the area
- Specifically threatened western chimpanzees and giant elands
- Unseen for 25 years before its rediscovery in 2024; a giant pangolin.
Elephants are still the missing keystone though. Their potential return is ecologically important since they knock down trees to make grasslands for grazers like buffalo shapes ecosystems.
The Ghost Elephant’s Uncertain Future
Image by Panthera and Senegal’s National Parks Directorate (DPN) via people.com
The issue now is whether Ousmane is actually solitary. Panthera is verifying his status by doing camera trap studies and DNA searches. Should he be the last, bringing women back from nearby nations could be the only means to stop Senegal’s elephants from disappearing entirely.
Still, translocation carries danger. Elephants need large territory, and human-wildlife conflict looms big in an area where protected areas encircle farms. “It’s not only about saving a species,” Henschel notes. “It’s about guaranteeing local communities see value in coexistence”.
A Symbol of Survival Against All Odds
Ousmane’s return is a paradox a haunting reminder of loss but also a lighthouse of hope. His survival against all the difficulties reflects the park’s own comeback, showing that with persistent work even the most damaged ecosystems can recover.
Henschel says: “This observation teaches us to never give up on even the rarest species. Watch this space; we might have more excellent news not too far off”.
What Comes Next? The Fight to Rewrite Extinction
Image by © Anil Öztas / Zoo Duisburg, FAL, via Wikimedia Commons
Political will and science will define the following actions. Should Ousmane be the last elephant in Senegal, environmentalists will advocate:
- Translocation of nearby nation breeding herds.
- Enhanced anti-poaching initiatives and habitat rehabilitation.
- Programs for community involvement meant to lower human-elephant conflict.
The chronicle of the phantom elephant is far from finished. It’s a call to action, an opportunity to make sure the next video shows a vibrant herd recovering their habitat rather than just one survivor.
Final Thought:
A ghost walks in Niokolo-Koba’s moonlit forests. But given enough work, he might yet find company.
Sources:
- People
