Cameroon: Minfof to Crack Down On Poac


The Post (Buea)

6 June 2008
Posted to the web 6 June 2008

Robert Tumasang


The East Provincial Delegate for Forestry and Wildlife, Mfou'ou Mfou'ou Bruno, has promised hell for those illegally dealing in wildlife and related products.

Mfou'ou Mfou'ou was speaking in Bertoua on May 29 during a meeting that brought together some wildlife dealers and other stakeholders in the sector."We will spare no effort at weeding out poachers from our forests and for those of you selling bush meat, you must respect the laid out laws" he warned.


The meeting was meant to sensitise wildlife dealers on the laws governing the sector and how defaulters would be punished.They were also drilled on the modalities for obtaining permits to deal in wildlife and the different categories of game and species that fall therein.

The 1994 forestry laws classify wildlife into three categories. Category A species such as chimpanzees, gorillas, lions and elephants are not allowed to be killed.

Category B species like buffalos and antelopes can be killed, but it requires a licence to do so, while Category C species are small animals like porcupines and rat moles and can easily be caught and sold.

The Provincial Chief of Fauna at the Forestry and Wildlife Delegation, Lt. Col. Prosper Magloire Seme, explained this to the about 30 dealers at the meeting.He said a list of endangered species will be photocopied and distributed to all the buyam-sellams (dealers) so that they would no more trade in ignorance.

Wildlife trafficking has become an entrenched activity in the East Province, with large quantities of bush meat seized day by day.On April 11 2008, 145 pieces of bush meat were confiscated from dealers at Dernier Poto, a quarter in Bertoua reputed for bush meat trade.

An operation dubbed "Operation coup de Poing" was launched six months ago not only to control wildlife trade, but also to weed out poachers especially from the Deng Deng Forest Reserve.

Over 1500 kg of bush meat were also seized from illegal dealers between November 28, 2007 when the operation was launched and April 11, 2008, while some 20 elephant tusks were confiscated between Yokadouma and Bertoua within the same period.


The meat confiscated also had parts of totally protected species like chimpanzees and gorillas.Article 15/8 of the 1994 forestry law fixes fines between FCFA 3,000,000 and FCFA 10,000,000 for all those who kill or capture protected species.

Mfou'ou Mfou'ou Bruno said his strategy is to sensitise all stakeholders on the trappings of the law."Today, we are educating the buyam-sellams. We also intend to invite hunters and drivers who transport bush meat so that together we can re-organise the sector and ensure that forestry and wildlife laws are respected to the letter," he said.

He regretted that it would be very difficult to get hunters onto the discussion table, but "we must give it a try."

Proberbly almost/virtually impossible to stop poaching here and/or in most other places within Africa.

WE hear a lot of noise about it BUT the reality is it is not possible to police in any real meaniful way !!