Seized ivory in Cameroon

Seized ivory in Cameroon

Image by Copright: ZSL/ seized ivory


The grim discovery of 39 forest elephant tusks was made by ecoguards from the Dja Biosphere Reserve, one of the protected areas under the Cameroon Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF), following a tip-off from an intelligence network supported by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

The forest elephant tusks were found concealed beneath cocoa bags in a truck intercepted in Djoum, a town in the southern region of Cameroon.

The illegal cargo weighed a total of 91kg, with each tusk weighing less than 4kg. The number and small size of the tusks indicates that at least 20 young elephants were slaughtered to obtain the black market goods.

The tusks were most likely destined for South East Asia where demand for ivory jewellery and trinkets has fuelled a 60% decline in African forest elephants since 2001.

A local businessman who owned the truck carrying the ivory has been arrested and is awaiting trial. Traffickers in Cameroon can face up to three years in prison for one tusk. But prosecutions are rare, which is why MINFOF and ZSL are keen to keep the case in the public eye.

Achile Mengamenya Goué, the MINFOF Conservator of the Dja Biosphere Reserve says: “A kilo of ivory can fetch up to $500 on the Cameroonian black market and up to $2,100 on the Asian market. It is therefore important to prosecute anyone involved in order to deter those tempted by this illegal trade.”

Forest elephants are the smallest African elephants. They have straighter, stronger tusks than their savannah cousins that enable them to push through dense undergrowth. Demand for their tusks means the elephants are now listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List.

Professor Jonathan Baillie, Director of Conservation Programmes at ZSL, says: “Criminals involved in the illegal ivory trade must face heavy penalties if we are to have any chance of stopping it. People buying ivory also need to take a hard look at themselves and ask whether trinkets are worth the slaughter of these magnificent, majestic animals.”

ZSL has been working with local partners in Cameroon since 2007 to protect forest elephants. Conservation activities include supporting law enforcement, surveying elephant populations and empowering local communities to fight wildlife crime through community surveillance networks.

Jean-Christophe Vié, Deputy Director of the IUCN Global Species Programme and Director of SOS – Save Our Species adds: “More frequently poachers and traffickers alike are being caught through the coordinated efforts of those on the frontline of conservation working under difficult conditions and taking significant risks.

“The success in Cameroon provides further impetus for conservationists meeting tomorrow at IUCN’s World Parks Congress who will be highlighting the role effective enforcement of protected areas plays in reducing wildlife crime.”

Tackling wildlife crime is a major focus for SOS - Save Our Species. ZSL’s work in the Dja Biosphere Reserve is one of 85 projects funded by the global partnership.

ENDS

Editors’ Notes

ZSL

Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity whose mission is to promote and achieve the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. Our mission is realised through our ground-breaking science, our active conservation projects in more than 50 countries and our two Zoos, ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. For more information visitwww.zsl.org

MINFOF

The Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF) is the governmental ministry charged with the management and monitoring of the Permanent Forest Estate (protected areas, communal and national forests). Each protected area in Cameroon has a MINFOF Conservation Service which is directly charged with the protection and management of the habitats and wildlife. For more information visit http://www.minfof.cm/

SOS – Save Our Species

Founded in 2010, SOS is a joint initiative of IUCN, the Global Environment Facility and the World Bank supported by the Fonds français pour l’environnement mondial (FFEM). Its objective is to ensure the long-term survival of threatened species, their habitats and the communities that depend on them. More information at www.SaveOurSpecies.org.

The IUCN World Parks Congress 2014

Is a landmark global forum on protected areas. The Congress will share knowledge and innovation, setting the agenda for protected areas conservation for the decade to come. Building on the theme "Parks, people, planet: inspiring solutions", it will present, discuss and create original approaches for conservation and development, helping to address the gap in the conservation and sustainable development agenda.

Professor Jonathan Baillie, Director of Conservation at ZSL, will be speaking at a session entitled Wildlife crime and law enforcement in protected areas on Saturday, November 15at IUCN World Parks Congress 2014.

United for Wildlife

The Duke of Cambridge is President of United for Wildlife, a collaboration of seven of the largest global Conservation organisations. The partnership between Conservation International, Fauna & Flora International, International Union for Conservation of Nature, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, WWF-UK, the Zoological Society of London and The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry aims to substantially increase the global response to major conservation crises.

The first crisis which United for Wildlife will help tackle is the unprecedented rise in the illegal wildlife trade, resulting in the slaughter of thousands of animals, many from already endangered species.

 

blog comments powered by Disqus