WWF condemns murder of ranger, calls for drastic measures against wildlife criminals
WWF condemns murder of ranger, calls for drastic measures against wildlife criminals
Yaounde, Cameroon (15 December, 2016 ) – WWF strongly condemns the murder of a forest ranger by poachers south of Lobeke National Park in eastern Cameroon on December 7. Ngongo Bruce Danny is the second ranger who lost his life while trying to protect the forest and wildlife in Cameroon in 2016. In April this year Ngamagnine Mathieu, a ranger working for Faro National Park in the North of Cameroon was also brutally murdered by poachers inside the park. Many still remember also the assassination of Achille Pierre Zomedel in September 2011 in Lobeke. Achille was stripped naked, bludgeoned, tortured and tied to a tree. Many other rangers have been maimed for live following confrontations with poachers in several parts of Cameroon.
The killing of rangers in the course of their work by poachers constitutes the most serious human right violation. WWF in Cameroon is appalled by the murder and suffering of these rangers and is encouraging the government of Cameroon to take further measures to crackdown on wildlife criminals and enhance the security of rangers. “In times like this we need to stand up in solidarity with the rangers and their families and pull our resources together to fight a common enemy,” said Dr. Hanson Njiforti, National Director, WWF Cameroon. “The systematic killing of rangers must jolt all militating for protection of wildlife into action before things get out of control,” Dr. Njiforti added.
Rangers work in very difficult circumstances in Cameroon. Until recently, they had been going after heavily armed poachers unarmed. Their pay is very small, less than 120 US dollar a month. They are required to undertake surveillance in areas twice larger than the 5000 ha for a well-armed ranger as prescribed by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
According to a Ranger Perceptions Survey carried out by WWF early this year involving 570 rangers from 65 sites in 12 countries including Cameroon, 82% of Rangers have faced life threatening situations and 59% believe they are ill equipped. WWF is encouraging the government of Cameroon to elaborate a special status for rangers who are increasing facing the same risks as soldiers.
The wildlife criminals rangers confront everyday are armed with automatic rifles and are motivated by the high prices they get from sales of illicit ivory. Ngongo murderers escaped abandoning 9 elephant tusks. This means they must have killed some 5 elephants before the confrontation. “They are poised to unleash brutality and shoot rangers on sight for the sake of ivory tusks,” stated Dr. Njiforti. This situation has resulted in a drastic decline in the population of elephants in the last decade in Southeast Cameroon. A recent inventory report released by WWF earlier this month showed that the population of elephants estimated at about 12000 in Lobeke, Boumba-Bek and Nki national parks in 2005, has reduced by 75% as of the 2015 survey results. “This trend could result in the extinction of forest elephants in Southeast Cameroon,” Dr. Njiforti said.
Need to sustain heat on wildlife criminals
WWF salute a recent series of measures taken by the government of Cameroon to fight poaching. Law courts have slammed heavy sentences and fines on persons found guilty of poaching and ivory trafficking, including court registrars, gendarmes, rangers and customs officers. “These dissuasive measures and pressure on wildlife criminals must be sustained if we hope to avoid further loss of human lives and massacre of elephants. WWF are calling national and international communities to provide sustainable means to fight against elephant poaching as well as improving working conditions for rangers” Dr. Njiforti said.---
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For more information, please contact:
Fidelis Pegue Manga, National Communications Officer: Fmanga@wwfcam.org; +237 699893538
Ernest Sumelong, Communications Officer, WWF Jengi: ENdjomo@wwfcam.org; +237 677239657
Assan Gomse, Program Manager, WWF Jengi TNS: AGomse@wwfcam.org
About WWF
WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption. www.panda.org/news for latest news and media resources
