2018 Agenda:

MINFOF to Step-up Anti-Poaching Campaign

By Mercy Neba in Yaounde

The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife has announced new measures to fight illegal poaching in the country. Ngole Philip Ngwese made the announcement as he received New Year wishes from personnel of his ministry on 24 January 2018, at the conference hall of the National Red Cross in Yaounde.

                He said in the face of increasing organized poaching across the national territory and the central African sub-region, the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife has in recent times been putting up a strong and consistent riposte. The anti-poaching efforts, which are continuously beefed up, have been paying off, thwarting the threats to wildlife and biodiversity.

                On Tuesday December 12, 2017, eco-guards attached to the south branch of the Dja Wildlife Reserve intercepted some ivory traffickers in Djoum. The operation led to the seizure of 216 elephant tusks and 81 elephant tails. One of the traffickers was arrested and is presently in the custody of security officials.

                It is suspected that about 108 elephants have been killed to obtain the stock. But wildlife authorities are yet to ascertain the origin of the booty.

                “Investigations have been opened to know where the elephant products are coming from,” the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife told Cameroon Tribune recently.

                He said concrete proposals will be made to hierarchy as to what will be done to the seized stock, suggesting that it is possible the tusks and tails will be incinerated.

                The Djoum seizure comes barely one month after Mobile Police Operatives seized another consignment of 160 elephant tusks.

                Minister Ngole Philip Ngwese says “in cooperation with local, bilateral and multilateral partners, government will sustain the fight against crossborder criminality, create more awareness in countries that provide a market for ivory, cooperate with neighbouring countries through applicable bilateral and tri-national cooperation agreements, and source funding for the implementation of the emergency action plan to secure protected areas in Cameroon.”

                The European Union has commended the efforts of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife. During a recent courtesy visit to the Forestry Minister, the Head of the EU Delegation to Cameroon, Hans-Peter Schadek noted with satisfaction the announcement of the seizure of 216 elephant tusks and 81 elephant tails. He the EU will constantly support the fight against poaching and ivory trafficking in Cameroon and Africa.