There is a sharp increase in killing, trafficking and exploitation of South Sudan’s natural resources, the Wildlife Conservation Society has warned.

According to a joint investigation it carried out with its local partners over the past few months, these acts are committed by both local and international individuals.

In a statement, the WCS says charcoal production, gold mining, logging, ivory poaching, commercial bush-meat poaching, wildlife trafficking, and other illegal activities are on the rise across South Sudan.

The WCS Deputy Director, Michael Lopidia, says there is particularly a serious increase in poaching, with elephants and tiangs suffering the most.

Mr Lopidia told Eye Radio that the elephants are killed and their ivories smuggled to the international markets.

“There was an estimated 62 animals that have been killed,” he said.

Mr Lopidia urged the government and other stakeholders to take immediate action to secure surviving animal populations before they are extinct.