A tragic aircraft crash on Wednesday claimed the lives of two individuals conducting a rhinoceros monitoring mission in southern Chad. According to a statement from the country’s Civil Aviation Authority, the victims were a South African pilot and a representative of Chad’s environment ministry.

The small two-seater Savannah S aircraft, operated by African Parks Network—a conservation group—went down around 0500 GMT near a village in the Zakouma region. The flight was part of an ongoing surveillance effort aimed at protecting the region’s wildlife, particularly the endangered rhinoceros population.

“The Civil Aviation Authority regrets to confirm that, according to information received, the two occupants tragically lost their lives in the accident,” the statement read. Authorities have launched a full investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

The incident casts a sombre shadow over conservation efforts in Zakouma National Park, a biodiversity hotspot that has seen renewed efforts to protect its wildlife in recent years. African Parks Network has been at the forefront of these efforts, partnering with government agencies to support anti-poaching operations and ecological monitoring.

Melissa Enoch

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