Cameroon intensifies protection of endangered animal species

The Cameroon government has published the first ever guide for the protection and promotion of its endangered wildlife species. The 274 pages document that has been prepared with the technical and financial support of the French government was presented to stakeholders recently in Yaounde.

“The guide makes known the various species Cameroon has in the wild; where they are located and to come forth with appropriate measures to ensure their protection and see how we can valorize them by promoting the tourism sector in our country”, the minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Philip Ngole Ngwese said.

Cameroon has the richest flora and fauna in the central African sub region but their survival is persistently being threatened by the activities of unprincipled poachers.

Nonetheless, the guide doesn’t come to solve the problems already know in the sector but add to efforts already deployed by government to protect the rich and emblematic species in Cameroon.

“Some two years ago, MINFOF came up with an emergency plan of action to ensure the protection of Cameroon’s wildlife following the massive killing of elephants in the Bouba Ndjida national park. The plan identifies specific measures government is putting in place to guarantee the survival of the emblematic animal species in the wild in the country”, Mr. Ngwese said.

The French Ambassador to Cameroon, Christine Robinchon said Cameroon’s rich natural patrimony is very important not just to the country but to the world at large, and thus needs protection.

“France is very much involved in issues linked to the environment and biodiversity preservation. Cameroon has a large variety of biodiversity; so it is very important to preserve it; be it forest or animals.”

The green-colored book titled “Protected Fauna of Cameroon” classifies the various species Cameroon has in the wild into two categories; category ‘A’ with 93 species like wild dogs, lions, leopards, elephants-being threatened species. Category ‘B’ with 167 species like African Elephants, Giant Hog, Buffalos etc and their degree of protection.