Thirsty elephants rampage through north Cameroon city
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Loading... - Abam Danso
- 06 Jun 2023
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Wildlife authorities in northern Cameroon are grappling with a rampaging herd of elephants that recently ventured into a regional capital. Prior to this, the elephants had trampled through nearby villages, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of at least two individuals.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Cameroon is home to approximately 6,830 elephants, making it one of Africa's largest remaining populations of this endangered species. While conservation efforts have contributed to an increase in their numbers in recent years, the encroachment of plantations and villages on their natural habitat occasionally drives these animals to wander into human settlements. This behavior leads to the destruction of crops and homes, as well as instances of the elephants charging at people.
Jean Nyemeg, a forestry and wildlife official, reported that this week the elephants trampled a child to death in a village near Maroua, the capital of Cameroon's Far North region. Subsequently, the herd made two incursions into Maroua itself. Nyemeg explained that the elephants had ventured out in search of water due to the arid conditions prevalent in the region. The herd was initially sighted near the border with Chad.
Videos shared on social media captured the spectacle of people dispersing in panic while capturing footage on their mobile phones as the herd roamed along asphalt roads. Nyemeg stated that rangers on foot are currently attempting to guide the elephants towards a national park situated approximately 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Maroua.
Oumarou Tamboutou, the deputy mayor of the nearby Kalfou district, mentioned that the elephants had previously claimed the life of a man in the area. The Ministry of Forests and Wildlife released a statement indicating that the animals were migrating towards the Waza National Park when a group of bystanders, unaware of the imminent danger, obstructed their path. Consequently, the disoriented elephants fatally attacked an individual named Bintou in the Balda locality. The ministry urged locals to avoid approaching the animals as they were still en route to the national park.
Wildlife organizations in Cameroon are actively striving to address the conflict between elephants and humans, which has previously sparked street protests, while also combatting poaching. The exacerbation of tensions by climate change-induced droughts is a pressing concern, as dehydrated elephants are more likely to encroach upon villages and towns.
Adamou Aboubakar, a local development officer for the African Wildlife Foundation, explained, "When there is a scarcity of water in one area, elephants migrate to other regions where they can access water and other resources."
