Minister outlines measures to mitigate effects of human, wildlife conflicts.

Jules Doret Ndongo: Minister of Forestry and Wildlife

The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Jules Doret Ndongo, has outlined a series of measures that will help mitigate the effect of human and wildlife conflicts that has affected the lives of many in the Far North Region of the country.

The development is contained in a release issued by the member of government contained in a statement signed Tuesday January 7.



The minister’s outing followed the death of a resident identified as Gnomo Gonga Blaise on December 1, 2024, in Kalfou, Mayo Kani Division of the Far North Region.

Gnomo Gongo was killed by wandering elephants, forcing the population to block the road linking Maroua to Yagoua on Monday January 6.

The minister in a statement, expressed deep sorrow over the loss and extended condolences to the bereaved family. He also offered the sympathy of his staff and that of the government as a whole.

According to the member of government, the presence of pachyderms in the heart of the locality is as a result of the fact that they are in search of food, water and other biological functions.

Minister Doret Ndongo noted that these elephants that find themselves in human settlement have caused significant damage to crops, harvests and people’s homes, and sometimes results in loss of life, as was the case recently.

He said human-wildlife conflict stem from natural causes such as floods and droughts, which are exacerbated by the effects of climate change. 

The minister stated that population growth has significantly contributed to the situation, given the growing demand for land for housing and agriculture, which has pushed people further into areas previously inhabited by wildlife. 

According to the member of government, to mitigate the impact of human-elephant interactions, some measures have been put in place. Among them are the creation of the Ma Mbed Mbed National Park in the neighbouring Mayo Kani Division. 

The park, he said, was established to help absorb part of the growing elephant population, providing it with a designated space that could reduce their interaction with nearby communities. 

The ministry, he added, has organised regular operations aimed at relocating and guiding elephants away from populated areas.

The minister also highlighted that in situations where human lives are at risk, governors are empowered to authorise administrative drives, further facilitating the safe relocation of elephants. 

These measures, though effective to some extent, cannot fully address the underlying issue of human-wildlife conflict. To this end, the government is exploring long-term solutions to the problem.

He equally announced the continuation of awareness-raising and communication campaigns on the movement of elephants while urging the population to carry out cautious attitude towards the animals, and to use traditional driving techniques.

He equally ordered the deployment of 30 Eco-guards to the locality of Kalfou to assist with the removal of the elephants from the area. 

The task, he said, will be carried out under the supervision of the Governor, with the support of the Defense and Security Forces to ensure the safety of both humans and elephants during the operation.

He reiterates the government’s commitment to spare no effort in finding appropriate solutions to the thorny problem of the human-elephant conflict, which is now rife in a number of localities of the country.

 

 

 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3336 of Sunday January 12, 2025

 

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