The Conservator of the Bayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary, BMWS, in Kupe Muanenguba Division, South West Region, Mekembom Yves Nathan, has warned against the dangers of killing pangolins to the ecosystem.
Mekembom issued the warning February 17. This was during the celebration of World Pangolin Day 2024 in Ntale, Nguti Sub Division
The day was observed under the theme: “Protecting Pangolins: Protecting a Unique Specie”. He disclosed that pangolins play a critical role in the ecosystem as they live predominantly on ants and termites.
The population of Babubock, Ntale, Muanzetor, Bambe and Bombe Konye villages attended the event. The Conservator told the population, a single pangolin consumes 70 million ants and termites yearly.
This, Mekembom said, helps to provide the earth with a natural pest control system and serve as fantastic tenders of soil through their everyday behaviour.
The Conservator further sensitized that BMWS, with its rich biodiversity, is home to many rare, endemic and globally threatened species including Pangolins and other species such as the forest elephant and chimpanzee.
BMWS hosts three of world endangered pangolin species
He said four of the world’s eight species of pangolin live in Africa. Three of the species, he said are in Cameroon and are located at the Banyang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary.
They include: the white-bellied pangolin (pthataginus tricuspis, endangered); the giant pangolin (Manis gigtantean, endangered) and the black-bellied pangolin (Phataginuts tetradactyl, endangered).
He said very little is known about the pangolin and the illegal trade for its meat and scales. This, he said, is especially driven by demand from Asian countries which has become a threat to pangolin survival.
Time To Act Is Now
Mekembom said the survival of pangolins is the responsibility of every community member.
“Act now else we risk losing our pangolins,” he told the community members.
Meanwhile, the Conservation Education Officer of the Programme for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, PSMNR, in the South West Region, Chief Inyang Zachary Ekpe said pangolins fall under category A, completely protected by the law.
He warned that persons caught with any part of pangolin dead or alive faces a jail term of three years and or a fine of FCFA 10 million.
He told community members that in order to protect pangolins, they must completely eradicate poaching and the destruction of habitats like the clearing of forest, poor farming practices and trade in pangolins.
Alternatives To Poaching
The Community Development Officer, CDO of the Bayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary, Esoh Vitalis Akime, stated that over the years, they have empowered community members with alternatives to poaching.
He enumerated that the Sanctuary has nursed and distributed 30.000 cocoa and Non Timber Forest Products, NTFPs to the cluster villages for planting.
The CDO stated that they have sponsored 22 repentant poachers at COIC Buea, distributed 220 piglets to 22 hunters in the Ebamut and Banyue clusters, employed more than 30 hunters temporarily under community based surveillances, amongst others.
Speaking on behalf of the population, the Chief of Ntale, HRH Ajang Samuel, expressed joy that his village was chosen for this year’s celebration.
He promised to further sensitize his population and extend injunctions on unacceptable behaviours on the killing and sales of pangolin in the village.
The chief said, this, is their local measure to support efforts of BMWS to protect pangolins.
A gala football match between Ntale village and Bombe Konye, ended in a one all tie. Traditional dances and singing spiced the event.
Also present at the ceremony was the Collaborative Management Unit Head of BMWS, Ibrahim Mechia, the Communication Officer of PSMNR-SW, Atia Julius and Ngwese Dominic of Nature Cameroon, a local support organization.
It should be noted that Bayang Mbo Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the five protected areas in the South West Region under the Programme for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, South West Region, PSMNR-SW.
By Olive Ejang
