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A camel and several gazelles have been stolen and killed for food from the Sudan Animal Rescue sanctuary, the founder has told the BBC, blaming fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The RSF is one side of a civil war that is currently raging in Sudan.

Four gazelles were shot on two separate occasions as well as one camel on a third occasion, the rescue centre said.

The RSF fighters are also threatening to return to steal more animals, the sanctuary added.

The BBC has not been able to independently verify these incidents.

Speaking to the BBC Africa live page team, the founder and director of the centre condemned the acts as "savage".

"These acts of violence are putting our animals and our staff in danger. We have been working tirelessly for years protecting these wild animals and during this difficult time of war," Osman Salih said.

Mr Salih added that warring sides should not bomb the sanctuary because the wild animals pose a potential "risk" to the public if they break out.

The sanctuary also houses lions.