The Governor of Western Equatoria State, Badagbu Daniel Rimbasa, has ordered the deployment of a joint security force to Southern National Park following reports that elephants destroyed farms and food crops in Manikakara Payam of Ibba County.

According to a statement posted on the governor’s official Facebook page on Saturday, the governor described the destruction as a natural disaster that has affected the livelihoods and food security of many farming families.

Rimbasa said the joint force will investigate why the elephants are leaving their habitat in the park and entering nearby farmlands.

“I have ordered the deployment of a joint force to the Southern National Park to establish why elephants are leaving their natural habitat and entering community farmland. The elephants are not leaving the area, and they have become aggressive, attacking people as well,” he said.

The governor also announced the formation of a committee led by Samuel Bati, together with state ministers and wildlife officials, to visit Manikakara Payam, assess the damage, and meet with affected residents.

He said the state government has also engaged Fauna & Flora International (FFI), a conservation organization supporting the management of Southern National Park, to explore livelihood support for families whose farms and crops were destroyed.

While expressing sympathy to the affected communities, Rimbasa called on residents to continue protecting forest elephants, saying they are an endangered species.

“We must find a balance between protecting our communities and conserving our wildlife. Forest elephants are an endangered species facing extinction, and it is our collective responsibility to protect them while working towards lasting solutions to the human-wildlife conflict,” he said.

The governor said the state government will continue working with wildlife authorities, conservation partners, and local communities to address the growing human-elephant conflict, protect lives and livelihoods, and conserve the state’s biodiversity.