A traditional notable in the West region was arrested on
October 18, alongside another suspect during a sting operation carried out by
the Nde Divisional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife for attempts at selling
two leopard skins in Bangangte.
A fresh leopard skin, an older one and pangolin scales
were seized during the operation. According to a source that spoke on condition
of anonymity, one of the alleged traffickers had travelled all the way from
Bangolap, a few kilometers from Bangangte, on a bike with a leopard skin and
pangolins scales, met the traditional notable who also had a skin. When they
were about to make business with the carefully concealed products, wildlife law
enforcement officials arrived on the scene and arrested him.
The operation was carried out in
collaboration with the gendarmerie company in Bangangte and with the technical
support of LAGA- an international organisation specialized in wildlife law
enforcement. Following information coming in from early investigations, the
skins were from a neighboring country. Further Investigations on the existence
of a possible network of traffickers of leopard skins in the country are
expected to be initiated by the conservation group LAGA. The source that spoke
on condition of anonymity said the traditional notable had left several leads
while carrying out his alleged trafficking. He is alleged to have sold at least
10 skins a month to his arrest.
A case
file has been established against the traffickers who will be facing the courts
in the near future. According to section 101 and 158 of the law governing the
wildlife sector in the country, anyone caught in possession of part or whole of
protected wildlife species is liable to a prison term from 1 to 3 years and or
payment of a fine up to 10 million francs.
These
sanctions, accompanied with other wildlife law enforcement measures, are
intended to hamper traffickers from freely exercising their criminal activities
and government is also using several other policies to this effect. A couple of
days after the arrest of the two, the 17th Meeting of Parties to the Congo
Basin Forest Partnership (CBFP) took place in Douala and wildlife law
enforcement was of critical interest to conservationists who came from several
Central African countries to take part in this yearly event. They believe, it
is part of a serious effort to stem extinction.
Since
the mid-1970s, endangered wildlife species have attracted increasing interest
and concern in the international community following early warning of their
extinction. Efforts to conserve these endangered species have taken many forms
and have involved attracting many actors including governments, the United
Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations.
The rate of extinction of the big
cats and other wildlife species provided ample reasons for the World
Conservation Union (IUCN) to come up with a widely accepted system for
identifying wildlife species known as the Red List Categories. This system
provides for the classification of the broadest range of wildlife species
including the big cats according to their risk of extinction. Leopards are
listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List Categories.
They are
illegally hunted in the sub region for their skin and skull which are also
exported to neighbouring countries (Nigeria) through the West regions of
Cameroon. The parts serve diverse cultural and decorative purposes. Until
people start believing the reality of extinction, then wildlife species will
continuously be killed to serve the egos of a few rich and influential
individuals.
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