‘Paradise and hell’: the battle to save the forest elephant

Gabon's wild and beautiful rainforest is on the frontline against ivory poachers, part of international criminal networks that also fund terrorists

Deep in the steamy rainforest of Gabon, a poaching gang's night-time fire is smouldering and two long elephant tusks lie among the tangled roots. The axe that hacked them off lies nearby.

Just after dawn, the insect buzz and bird chatter is suddenly pierced by a whistle blast and camouflaged park guards burst out from their forest cover, swiftly pinning the poachers to the ground.