Great Ape Hunting and Trade in Lobeke, Cameroon
The Lobeke National Park falls within the southeastern corner of the
Republic of Cameroon. It is part of the larger Congo Basin forest block
characterised by a low population density clustered within the semi-deciduous
evergreen and swamp forest types covering the region. The forests of the
region include a high diversity of plant communities minimally disturbed
by human activities, and support extraordinary high densities of large
mammals including elephants, western lowland gorillas, chimpanzees, bongos
and many other forest species.
The local communities comprise mainly the Bagando and Bakwele ethnic groups
of Bantu origin and semi-sedentary forager-farmer Baka Pygmies. There
is also a small number of Moslem traders and other non-indigenous people
who came into the area as a result of logging activities. There also exists
a small population of Congolese, Senegalese and other nationals from the
West African region involved in petty trade and ivory and gold trafficking.
Another important characteristic of Lobeke National Park is its contiguity
with other protected areas, the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park, Congo,
and Dzanga-Sangha Dense Forest Reserve, Central African Republic.
Biological Diversity
For a multitude of reasons Lobeke is of outstanding conservation importance.
The area harbours an unusually high density of forest mammals, particularly
amongst so-called "charismatic megafauna" such as elephants
(Loxodonta cyclotis), gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla),
chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), bongos (Boocercus euryceros),
and forest buffaloes (Syncerus nanus). Significant populations
of widely threatened species are still found in Lobeke, although increasingly
under threat due to over-exploitation. The avifauna comprises more than
283 species, including 3 species (Ageslates niger, Apaloderma
equatorial, Criniger olivaceus) of restricted distribution,
included in the IUCN Red Data Book. The forest clearings of the area attract
many African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) and green pigeons
(Treron australis), which are very often captured by commercial
agents exceeding sustainable limits.
The aquatic fauna of the region is also extremely rich with more than
62 fish species recorded in rivers and major streams in the area. The
rivers of the region are also known to be rich in shrimps widely harvested
by the local people. Non-timber forest products such as honey and bush
mangoes (Irvingia spp.) are widely distributed and harvested by
the people. Bush mango collection during peak fruiting periods represents
an important economic activity that mobilises the entire active population
of the area.
The Lobeke forest is also rich in various commercial tree species, notably
ayous (Triplochiton scleroxylon), sapelli (Entandrophragma cylindricum)
and azobe (Lophira alata). The richness of the forest in various
commercial species has attracted many timber companies to the area. Most
of the forest area in Lobeke has been logged at least 3 times over the
past 30 years. Most of the current logging practices are probably unsustainable
and could in the long term constitute a major threat to biodiversity and
conservation of natural resources in the region.
Primate Diversity
Studies of WCS in 1996 indicate high densities of various primates species censused using standard line transect methods involving direct observations and nest counts for the great apes. Based on nest density computation, a mean density of 2.98 weaned individuals/km² for gorillas and 0.17 weaned individuals/km² were found. Results of 6 arboreal species studied in the Lobeke Forest showed an overall encounter rate of 0.98/km. Spot-nosed monkey Cercopithecus nictitans and gray-cheeked mangabey Lophocebus albigena were the most abundant with group encounter rates of 0.3/km and 0.28/km respectively. Arboreal primate species are well represented in the Lobeke Forest and the southeastern forest region in general. Chimpanzees are more abundantly distributed in primary than secondary forest, and gorillas are commonly found in secondary Maranthaceae and logged forest vegetation.
Conservation Threats
One of the most fundamental conservation problems in the region is over-exploitation of the natural resources. Natural resource exploitation defies all conservation norms, and is coupled with a lack of management system geared towards effective protection and resource management. There is a complex chain of factors that contribute to the unsustainable nature in which resources of the region are exploited; these could be linked to a wide range of reasons, notably:
- Ineffective presence of relevant government services linked to natural
resource management;
- Diffuse local community with no coherent traditional structure as major custodians of these resources;
- Extremely isolated and remote nature of the area posing natural obstacles for any control measures;
- Permeable frontiers allowing easy movement of poachers across the borders;
- Influx of fortune seekers into the area;
- Isolated nature of most of the indigenous population;
- The impoverished and fragile economic environment.
The main activities that constitute the threats to biodiversity conservation in the region include:
Logging
One of the greatest threats facing conservation work in the region is
commercial logging. Intensive logging in the region started in the early
1970s. The abundance of logging roads has exposed hitherto closed forest
to poachers who settle along the roadsides to conduct large-scale commercial
hunting and bushmeat trade. The logging trucks help in transporting bushmeat
to distant urban centres, and in turn replenish poachers in the forest
with basic needs such as food, purchase of wire snares, cartridges and
other materials. Most of the poachers are former workers of logging companies
and most of the local bushmeat markets are found in these logging areas.
The most immediate consequence of large-scale intensive logging is its
impact on the forest structure that results in forest fragmentation. Chimpanzee
populations being primary forest dwellers respond negatively to forest
fragmentation. Selective logging in particular is known to result in lower
densities of chimpanzees. Usongo reported higher encounter rates based
on nest counts of chimpanzees in unlogged forest (0.71 nests/km) than
logged forest (0.67 nests/km). More studies done by WCS (Wildlife Conservation
Society) in 1996 in the region showed that habitats with little human
disturbance support higher species densities. Gorillas, on the contrary,
are generally associated with wetlands and secondary forest, and thicket
type forest. These vegetation types provide gorillas with their food and
are also important nesting sites for them.
Hunting
Hunting represents one of the biggest threats facing species populations.
Primates, and great apes in particular, are generally hunted for food
by local people and poachers for the bushmeat trade. Chimpanzees and gorillas
are mostly hunted with locally made guns and special wire snares fabricated
for that purpose. Ammunition is ferried into the area from neighbouring
Congo. Gorilla and chimpanzee hunting is carried out largely by commercial
hunters who in most cases are non-indigenous, usually former workers of
various logging companies operating in the region.
Based on field observations, more than 10 apes are hunted every month
within the Lobeke region and most likely at least 10-15 per week in southeastern
Cameroon - an annual estimated offtake of about 500 individuals. Most
of the meat is ferried to neighbouring markets in Ouesso, Pokola in Congo,
and Yokadouma, Bertoua and to some extent Yaounde and Douala. The logging
trucks transporting wood from the forest to the Douala seaport transport
most of the bushmeat. Law enforcement officers have very little control
due largely to the lack of personnel and logistics. The price of smoked
chimpanzee or gorilla is about US$ 20 in local markets in the region and
three times as much in cities and neighbouring markets in Congo.
Other hunting methods. Poisoned bow-and-arrows, local weapons, are mostly
used by Baka Pygmies, although great apes are rarely killed by Baka Pygmies
using poisoned arrows. Wire snares are widely used by poachers, with special
cables used for trapping great apes given their weight and size.
Other uses of great apes. Gorillas and chimpanzees are not only killed
for their meat but are also kept by many, especially expatriates working
with various local industries, as pets. There is also trade, especially
of baby chimps and gorillas, across the region to Europe and to some extent
Asia and South Africa. The animals are bought by animal collectors who
travel from cities into the region for the trade. They are transported
in very poor conditions in small wooden cages. Certain parts of great
apes are used for medicinal purposes and other traditional forms of use
by local Bantu and Baka Pygmies. For example, chimpanzee hairs are used
for curing serious skin burns.
Conservation Action
Given the high pressure due to hunting compounded with habitat degradation as a result of commercial logging, there is urgent need to undertake various conservation actions such as the establishment of more protected areas in forested areas like southeastern Cameroon to save populations and habitats. The national governments in the Congo Basin need to step up law enforcement and other measures to take control of the situation. There is very little control by rangers, who are poorly equipped to redress current trends in the bushmeat trade in the region. More zoological inventories should be conducted to identify important conservation sites and provide baseline management information on the distribution and abundance of species in the region. Studies are also required to assess the present pressure on populations due to hunting.
Leonard Usongo and Robinson Ngnegueu
Dr. Leonard Usongo has been working with WWF for
6 years; before that he worked with WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society).
Robinson Ngnegueu works as Scientific Advisor in WWF SE Forest
project. He has been working for WWF for 3 years.
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Chimpanzee as pet |
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| Photo: Leonard Usongo |