Human-wildlife conflict: the government seeks solution

• Date de Publication : 2023-05-29

On 27 May 2023, the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, His Excellency Jules Doret NDONGO, made a working visit to Maroua, in the Far North region. The subject of this working visit was the management of the Human-Wildlife conflict in the Far North zone.

Conflicts between Human beings and Wildlife are a serious social, economic and ecological threat. In his address, Mr Jules Doret NDONGO outlined the various causes and consequences of such conflicts. On 23 May 2023 in the locality of Maga, 4 roaming elephants took the life of a young lady called BINTOU, who wanted to observe the animals at close rang. The Minister, on behalf of the government, once again addressed his condolences to the bereaved family and invited his collaborators to observe a minute of silence in memory of this lady.

Aware of the severe impact of these conflicts, the government, through the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, is sparing no effort to find solutions, including the signing of a dozen authorisations for administrative drives, some of which are underway. At regional level, they are carrying out awareness-raising campaigns and permanent ecological monitoring of these elephants. In addition, many pushback operations have been carried out, and signposts produced to indicate areas of human-wildlife conflict, just to name a few.

Despite these efforts, MINFOF still encounters obstacles in attaining its objectives, notably the occupation of elephant corridors by local inhabitants and their activities, not to mention the recklessness of some of them. The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife therefore appeals for collective awareness and invites everyone involved to play their role in ensuring peaceful cohabitation between human beings and animals.