Bobo-dioulasso: The Ministry of the Environment announced that it was compelled to preemptively slaughter an elephant in Bobo-Dioulasso and a buffalo in Ouagadougou to avert potentially severe threats posed by these aggressive animals in urban areas.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the decision came after the Ministry observed that these animals had strayed from their natural habitats and were found in densely populated urban areas. On August 22, 2025, sightings of a buffalo in the Balkuy district of Ouagadougou and an elephant in the Kuinima district of Bobo-Dioulasso raised alarms due to their aggressive behavior, which posed a significant risk to the safety of local residents and their properties.
The Ministry’s attempts to repel the animals proved futile, necessitating the drastic measure of preventive slaughter to ensure public safety. The Ministry emphasized that such incidents are not unprecedented in the country and are attributed to factors like urbanization, poaching, destruction or fragmentation of natural habitats, and human encroachment on wildlife corridors.
The Minister of the Environment, Water and Sanitation urged the public to remain calm and cooperate with efforts aimed at sustainable wildlife management. Ongoing conservation programs within the ministry aim to preserve the nation’s wildlife diversity, reassuring both national and international communities of their commitment to wildlife conservation.
