Jengi Newsletter No. 33, January...

With over 60 percent of forest elephants killed in protected areas in Southeast Cameroon in under a decade,Cameroon has been hard hit by poaching. Urgent and necessary measures must be taken to safeguard thelast surviving elephants.

Jengi Newsletter No. 33, January 2018

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Three mega seizures of elephant tusks made inCameroon in 2017 shows the grave dangerforest elephants face. In March 2017, customsofficials seized 159 elephant tusks in Bertoua,the chief town of the East Region ofCameroon; in November 2017, police seized158 tusks in the city of Douala while rangersseized 216 tusks near Djoum in December2017. This brings the number to 533 ofelephant tusks seized in just three operationswithin 10 months. Forest elephantsparticularly within the TRIDOM landscapeand the central African sub region, have neverbeen in danger like now.

WWF wildlife census published in November2017 revealed that over 60% of the region’selephant population was decimated in under adecade. Nki National Park, one of the biggestand richest parks in Cameroon, was hardesthit with over 75% of its elephants killed.

Cameroon is hard hit by elephant poaching.In the last ten years (2006 to 2015) the

country lost about 75% per cent of itselephants in some protected areas in the eastregion, according to a WWF wildlife censuspublished in 2016. Cameroon is used both asa source and transit for smuggling of elephanttusks coming from Central African Republic,Gabon and Congo Republic. Some 300elephant tusks were seized from poachers indifferent parts of Cameroon in 2016.

Elephant poaching is unfortunately witnessinga boom at a time WWF and its partners as wellas Cameroonian authorities have multipliedefforts to curb wildlife criminality. This latestseizure comes at a time Cameroon’s Ministryof Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) andpartners like WWF have redoubled efforts tofight wildlife crime. Rangers, police andcustoms officers have arrested more than 20poachers. Several law courts have slammedheavy jail terms on poachers in recent months.Anti-poaching efforts have been strengthenedin and around protected areas and rangers arebetter equipped to face wildlife criminals. InFebruary 2017, the Cameroon governmentordered the burning of three tons of pangolinscales seized from traffickers. Earlier in April2016, Cameroon ordered the burning of 2,000ivory tusks and 1,753 ivory objects in a movethat was aimed at dissuading traffickers.However, the hemorrhage is persisting.

Unfortunately, well placed governmentofficials are involved in aiding and abettingmost poaching operations as evidenced by theseizure of 216 elephant tusks reportedly in thevehicle of a military colonel.

“It is frustrating to know that elephantscontinue to fall in such an alarming rate inspite of efforts deployed on the field. It is timefor urgent action to save the last elephantsstanding. We really need more support andconcerted efforts in this fight,” states GillesEtoga, WWF Jengi TRIDOM ProgrammeManager.

As WWF and its partners pursue efforts to endpoaching, it is hoped that Cameroon’s wildlifelaw under revision that envisages tougherpenalties for wildlife offenders will soon seethe light of day to bolster efforts on theground.


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Two hundred and sixteen elephant tusks seized in December 2017

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One hundred and ten African grey parrots captured andkept in captivity by traffickers south of Lobeke NationalPark in eastern Cameroon were rescued and released bypark rangers.The rangers seized the parrots from a certain MussaHallilu, during an operation on December 4, 2017. Hallilu,now in custody, caged the birds for over three monthsseeking means to smuggle them out of the area to potentialbuyers. He reportedly contacted a ranger to help him in theoperation. Rangers later arrested Hallilu in the village ofSocambo on Cameroon borders with the Republic ofCongo. Lobeke conservation service released the parrotsback into the wild on December 6. This is the second timein less than one month that police and rangers have seizedparrots from traffickers. On November 23, police in the cityof Douala seized 124 parrot heads from three traffickers.Hallilu faces up to three years in prison and FCFA 10million (circa US $ 20000) as fine for illegal capture ofparrots.“I wish to hail rangers for seizing and releasing the parrots.We are sparing no effort in curbing poaching and bringingwildlife criminals to justice,” says Achile Mengamenya,Conservator of Lobeke National Park.

African grey still see red

This amazing talking bird used to be captured as pets,upon issuance of a Cameroon government permit.However, recent upsurge in illegal trade and thedecapitation of the birds for rituals prompted CameroonMinistry of Forestry and Wildlife to raise the grey parrot toClass A (totally protected) species in 2017.An estimated 100000 African grey parrots live in thesoutheast of Cameroon, especially in Lobeke National Park.However, conservationists fear incessant capture anddecapitation of the bird is leading to decline in itspopulation.In 2015, a law court in eastern Cameroon sentenced anotorious and recidivist parrot poacher Roger Atanganaand two of his accomplices to three-year jail terms and ahuge fine. “There was a sense of respite after the courtverdict,” says Djibrila Hessana, WWF Program Managerfor Lobeke. “This latest seizure calls for more vigilance. Wetrust the court will hand down a severe sentence on thetrafficker,” says Djibrila.Lobeke is a part of Sangha Tri-National (TNS)transboundary Conservation landscape involving protectedareas in Central African Republic, (Dzanga-Ndoki ) andRepublic of Congo (Nouabale Ndoki). On September 3,2012, UNESCO declared TNS a World Heritage Site.

An estimated 100000 African greyparrots live in the southeast of

Cameroon, especially in LobekeNational Park.


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Ranger freeing rescued parrots

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ANTI-POACHING:

WWF recently provided field equipments to boostbiomonitoring and law enforcement in protectedareas in the Cameroon segment of TRIDOMlandscape .The equipment comprising GPS, compasses,digital cameras, potable solar panels, Thurayas,camping tents, field bags, uniforms and bootswere donated to the conservation services of Nkiand Boumba Bek national parks, the Ngoyla theWildlife Reserve, Kom Mengame GorillaSanctuary and the Dja Biosphere Reserve.“These sorely needed gadgets will ease the work ofrangers during biomonitoring and anti-poachingoperations,” says Constantine Itoe, Conservator ofNgoyla Wildlife Reserve. “Many protected areaslack basic forest navigation and data collectiontools, rendering the work of rangers difficult,” hestated.Protected areas in the landscape grapple withbasic equipment and infrastructural challenges,ranging from GPS to vehicles and watchtowers inparks. In response to these needs, WWF JengiTRIDOM Programme, with the support of WWFNetherlands, constructed watchtowers and base

camps for Boumba Bek and Nki national parks aswell as provided the parks with gadgets such assolar panels, Inreach Delrome, Conquests, andcomputers.“This donation was made thanks to support by theCentral Africa World Heritage Forest Initiative(CAWHFI). Protected areas in the landscape needmaterial support to function well. Given the gravethreat posed to wildlife by poaching within thelandscape, we need to work with all partners tosecure the parks,” says Gilles Etoga, ProgramManager of WWF Jengi TRIDOM.TRIDOM landscape is very rich in biodiversitycomprising mega wildlife species such as forestelephants and gorillas. However, these speciesparticularly the elephant are highly threatened bypoaching. On 11 December 2017, game rangers ofthe Dja Biosphere Reserve seized 216 elephanttusks near Djoum in the South Region ofCameroon, the third major seizure in the countryin just 10 months. Many other seizures of hugequantities of elephant tusks and pangolin scalesmade in the country had their source from thesoutheast of the country.


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Material to serve the needs of TRIDOM protected areas

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A study for possible gorilla habituationlaunched since 2013 in Lobeke NationalPark in East Cameroon shows signs ofsignificant progress. A group of gorillasthat has been regularly monitored isgradually being habituated to humans, asignificant step in the habituation process.

“While I was in Lobeke in April 2017, Inoticed one group of gorillas that aregetting so used to people. When we metthis group of gorillas, they did not scream.They did not threaten us that much withina distance of 10 to 15 metres,” explains DrNaobi Okayasu of Japan Monkey Centerthat provides financial support for thehabituation project. “This means that evenwithout intensive habituation of thegorillas, they are gradually beinghabituated to humans,” she adds.

Lobeke is the second national park inCameroon where gorilla habituation isexperimented after Campo Ma”anNational Park in the South Region wheregorilla habituation process is in progress.

Lobeke biomonitoring teams have beenmonitoring five groups of gorillas sincethe start of the project. “We have beenmonitoring the semi-habituation trialsince 2014. There has been interestingdevelopment in one of the areas calledPont Cassé, situated at the entrance toPetite Savane forest clearing. This area is a

very important habitat for the gorillas andchimpanzees. In 2015, we startedmonitoring the phonology of fruitingtrees, which great apes like to eat in thisarea,” states Dr. Naobi of Japan MonkeyCenter.

Results of a WWF wildlife censusconducted in 2015 revealed an estimatedgreat apes population of 14 170individuals. Wildlife bmonitoring teamshave established the periodic movementsof primates at Pont Cassé. This area isideal for visitors and tourists who do nothave to go far into the forest to sight theseprimates.

Reason to be optimistic

This is good reason for the Lobekeconservation service to be optimistic.“From what we have observed so far, thereare huge prospects for success. This isimmense opportunity for development ofeco-tourism around the park,” statesAchille Mengamenya, Conservator ofLobeke National Park.

“Much progress has been made with thesemi-habituation project thanks tofinancial support from our donor. This isexciting as it will provide additionalattraction for our numerous visitors,’ saysDjibrilla Hessana, Programme Manager ofWWF Jengi TNS Programme.


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Frolicking gorillas in Lobeke

The Baka are one of the many indigenouscommunities living in Cameroon. Historicallymarginalized, the community faces several challengesin an ever-changing Cameroon but in recent years,improved access to education is helping createchange.

“I am going to school so I can become a gendarme(police) officer,” states Ngongo Inyas as hisschoolmate Mirreille chimes in “I dream of becominga teacher.” Ngongo and Mirreille are two of the 700Baka children in eastern Cameroon who havereceived school scholarships sponsored by WWF.

As a conservation organization, education is nottraditionally an activity WWF is involved in but thedecision to create and fund the scholarship was takenon the request of the Baka themselves.

An estimated 26,000 Baka live in SoutheastCameroon, in and around the country’s forests whichare a lifeline for indigenous communities like theirs.WWF, which has been present in Cameroon since1990, works closely with the Baka and otherindigenous peoples to identify how conservation canhelp protect and promote their rights and improveaccess to services such as education and healthcare.

With the Baka expressing an interest in sending theirchildren to school, WWF launched the Bakaeducation project in 2013. Today, the projectsupports Baka children in primary and secondaryschools in three districts - Yokadouma, Salapoumbe

and Moloundou - in the Boumba and Ngoko Divisionof eastern Cameroon, covering school fees, uniformsand books. Enrolment fees for public exams are alsocovered by the scholarships provided.

“Thanks to this grant, WWF takes the burden off theshoulders of Baka parents by enabling their childrento attend school. That is why this gesture iscommendable,” says the Director of GovernmentPrimary School Koumela that counts over 40 Bakachildren among a total of 150 students.

Data by local NGO, CEFAID, an implementingpartner on the project, indicates that between theschool years of 2013-2014 and 2014-2015, enrolmentof Baka children rose from 267 to 318, while thenumber of them admitted to write public examsclimbed from 118 in 2014 to 170 in 2015.

“We are pleased that our support is motivating moreBaka parents to send their children to school. Wehave noticed that the school dropout rate amongBaka has reduced significantly and are committed tocontinuing to work with the Baka community toaddress the challenges they face,” states OlivierNjounan, Collaborative Management Officer, WWF-Cameroon.

WWF works with key partners like CSOs and theMinistries of Basic and Secondary Education andSocial Affairs, to help support indigenouscommunities like the Baka through conservationactivities.


Baka and Bantu pupils of Government Primary School Mambele display WWF donated hand washing campaign messages

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Issues relating to indigenous peoples’ rights willhenceforth be better handled if indigenous people (IP)groups honour a commitment taken to collaborate withWWF and local actors in matters touching them.

In order to improve its intervention for the benefit of IPsin Southeast Cameroon, WWF seized the opportunity ofthe 57th General Assembly of Réseau actions concertéespopulations pygmées (RACOPY) in October 2017, todialogue with and enlist the active participation of IPs inissues relating to their rights and projects for theirdevelopment. Indigenous people are expected to workwith different local actors in seeking lasting solutions tomulti-faceted problems they face.

“This is a wonderful initiative by WWF and I wish thatthis consultation is extended to all Baka communitiesliving around national Parks,” states Ajina Ernest,President of Baka Association of Boumba and NgokoDivision. “I am optimistic that this initiative will greatlyimprove the way WWF works with Baka on the field,”says Ayina.

RACOPY members committed to continue thisconsultation with communities and provide feedbackduring the next RACOPY meeting scheduled for February2018 in Lomie.

WWF also sought advice on how to better work with IPcommunities for their effective participation inimplementation of projects for the wellbeing of IPs.

“We are ready to dialogue and work with IP groups inorder to better address issues relating to their rights andwellbeing. We expect RACOPY to work with the largestnumber of actors so that they can improve theirintervention on IP issues,” states Moise Nkono Bidzo,WWF IP Officer.

On the ground, WWF is providing support to local NGOCEFAID to record and follow up complaints as well assupport Baka to seek justice against their abusers. Theinitiative has supported scores of Baka who have sufferedabuses of any kind to get justice.

Two communities around Nki National Park and theNgoyla Wildlife Reserve have developed action plans thatinclude setting up vigilante groups to combat poaching.At the end of an awareness raising campaign undertakenin November 2017 by WWF in collaboration with theconservation service of Nki National Park, villagers ofEtekessang and Djadom including their chiefs, notablesand youths, expressed willingness to play their part in thefight against poaching that poses a threat to the wildlife ofthese protected areas.

The meeting with the communities comes at a timepoaching has intensified in the TRIDOM landscape withover 75% of the elephant population of Nki National Parkmassacred in just a decade. WWF findings show that

members of local communities are directly or indirectlyinvolved in all poaching operations carried out in and anaround the parks. These same communities can play animportant role in forestalling poaching by denouncingillegal acts or collaborating with the parks’ conservationservices to arrest suspects.

Discussion during the awareness-raising meetingcentered on the importance of conservation and benefitsto local communities, involvement of youths in parkmanagement and generation of revenue for locals andman wildlife conflicts. The communities then elaboratedan action plan on how to collaborate with theconservation services.


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Baka willing to collaborate in issues regarding them

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PublisherWWF Jengi Programme

Editorial AdvisersGilles Etoga

Djibrilla HessanaLamine SebogoPegue Manga

Alphonse Ngniado

EditorErnest Sumelong

ContributorsRene Meigari

Jean Paul BelingaMarius Sombabo

Louis NgonoNjounan Tegomo Olivier

Calvin FonjaBeuko Ghislain Brice

Jean Pierre ABESSOLO

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