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Cameroon: Centre - Man Arrested for Illegaly Detaining Protected Wildlife Species
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Cameroon Tribune (Yaoundé)
24 April 2008
Posted to the web 24 April 2008
Vincent Gudmia Mfonfu
Nanga Eboko (Upper Sanaga)
A Manager in a logging company has been arrested in the Upper Sanaga Division of the Centre Province for illegally detaining in his home two live chimpanzees, five parrots and a De brazza's Monkey, classified as a totally protected wildlife species under the Cameroon law of 1994 governing the wildlife sector. Investigations continue concerning his connection to a sale of another chimpanzee.
The logging company manager of Greek nationality was also found in possession of a hunting rifle without sufficient permit. His arrest was carried out by the Special Wildlife Unit of the National Control Brigade of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife and the Divisional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife in Collaboration with the Forces of Law and Order with technical assistance from The Last Great Ape Organisation - LAGA.
The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Professor Elvis Ngolle Ngolle recently declared that his Ministry is in a renewed alert mode. "The Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife is now in a renewed mode - a mode to arrest and sanction all those who violate the 1994 wildlife law. Those who want to deplete our wildlife cannot succeed", warned Minister Ngolle Ngolle.
The arrest of the logging company area manager in the Upper Sanaga Division came after a dealer in protected wildlife species from that area was arrested in Yaounde trying to sell a live chimpanzee. Nanga-Eboko has been noted as one of the major road junctions for wildlife trafficking in the country. "We certainly do have wildlife problems We do not spare any efforts to carry out hit operations against wildlife trafficking We have got into a residence and seized detained animals and in fact, the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife has put all the means at our diposal", explained Mbarga Mbarga Michel.
The 1994 wildlife law forbids trade in protected wildlife species, stipulating that anyone caught in possession of these species is liable to a prison term of up to 3 years and or pay a fine of up to 10 million CFA francs.
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