An orphaned Baby chimpanzee ‘Bakossi,’ that was rescued in the Bakossi National Park near the Bayang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary, BMWS, Bangem Sub Division, Kupe Muanenguba Division is reportedly faring well.
The Ultimate learnt that the baby chimpanzee was kept illegally by a farmer around the Bakossi National Park. She is the first infant chimpanzee the wildlife has received for a long time.
According to ECoDAS, ‘Bakossi’ is a victim of illegal wildlife trade in Cameroon. Unfortunately, she will not have the opportunity to grow in the wild with her parents like other young chimpanzees. The Limbe Wildlife Center is reportedly giving ‘Baby Bakossi’ the much needed attention it deserves.
The chimpanzee was taken to the Limbe Wildlife Center and was named Bakossi’ because it was discovered in the Bakossi land.
Highest Number of Chimpanzees
According to George Langsi, the Conservator of the Bayang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary, the fate of the chimpanzee species is of serious concern all over the world.
Speaking on World Chimpanzee Day 2022 in Bangem, he said current research estimate that BMWS harbours the highest number of chimps in Central Africa.
Similarly, Godwill Tansi, President and CEO of ECoDAS said past research has proven that the Banyang-Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary harbours the largest number of chimpanzees in Cameroon. Unfortunately, he said little or no research has been carried out recently to actually quantify the number of chimpanzees in the BMWS.
Tansi pleaded with researchers, conservation enthusiasts and funders to contribute their quota in protecting these closest human relatives, to carry out first-hand biomonitoring in this biodiversity hotspot in Cameroon.
On Chimps threats, the conservator revealed that chimpanzees in the BMWS, like those elsewhere in Cameroon, are threatened by many factors which are driving them towards extinction. These threats include among others; habitat loss due to extractivism, logging, agriculture and infrastructural development; illegal hunting of wildlife (including chimpanzees) as bushmeat and/or exotic pets for commercial purposes; and human-to-animal transmission of infectious diseases (given that chimps are vulnerable to about 140 human diseases).
Langsi added that armed conflicts like the ongoing socio-political crisis hamper conservation efforts in the BMWS. He said this is because eco-guards and other team members are unable to do their job efficiently and effectively in some parts of the Sanctuary.
By Olive Ejang
