Boko Haram encourages Poaching and Illegal Traffic in Cameroon.by | 11-08-2014 20:00 |
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 Parts of endangered animal species continue to circulate within the country with elephants being the most affected. Since the Islamic terrorist group, Boko Haram, intensified their attacks on Cameroon before May 2014, there have been a significant increase in poaching and illegal practices in the zone. Last month, CRTV radio reported a series of animal parts caught by forces of Law and Order within the South West Region (Mamfe) and the Far North Region. The animal parts they reported mainly involved elephant parts. The forest police in Mamfe, South West region of Cameroon revealed, they arrested two men within the first week of July with fresh elephant parts. According to them, the sources are yet to be identified. ?This is very negative to Cameroons Image because, it is not long the country lost 300 elephants to poachers from the Sudanese Janjaweed gun men.? Orock Becky, youth environmental activist, comments. According to her, Cameroonians and the forces of law and order must be very watchful because the poachers who came to Cameroon in 2013 are looking for the slightest opportunities to come back and get more for their trade. And the instability in the Northern regions of Cameroon caused by Boko Haram is giving them the possibility to re-start their deviant activities. With the Boko Haram crisis and the situation in the Central African Republic (CAR), more guns have fled from the CAR, Nigeria and other conflict zones of Africa into Cameroon. Afrique Media reported in March 2014 that AK 47s and other multiple riffles were sold in Bertoua, for 50 000 Fcfa or less. As a consequence, many more hunters and indigenous poachers now have AK 47s and other dangerous weapons which they use to kill elephants and other endangered animal species. That is why, the market for bush meat, and other illegal animal products have widened. It is not a surprise that driving along the highway to the big cities (Douala, Yaoundé, Limbe Kumba, Bafoussam, Bamenda, Bertoua, Bafia, Ambam and kribi) you find after every 2 to 5 kilometers along the road side fresh or dried bush meat, hunted from the forest. Ironically the bush meat is to be bought by the elite class who are to inform the local hunters about the dangers and impacts of their activities. But the president of the Republic, Paul Biya, believes the situation is under control. In a media interview last week, at the Nsimalen International airport, Yaoundé, he reassured the people ?Boko Haram? will not be more than Cameroon. The president also added: Cameroon have been in several difficult situations in the past and have always made a way out. According Monga Bay, environmental news network, Cameroon has some 936 species of birds, 211 mammals, 322 reptiles, 192 amphibians, and 8,260 species of plants. Some of the better known protected areas in Cameroon are Campo Ma?an National Park, Dja Reserve, Lobeké National Park, Waza National Park, and Korup National Park. Some of these animals in and out of the reserve zones are now highly trafficked because of the present situation. |
