By SIMON NDIVE KALLA
The Limbe Wildlife Centre LWC has rescued another flock of 275 endangered African grey parrots.
Customs seized the trafficked parrots in the Littoral Region, placing them in the specialised care of the Limbe Wildlife Centre, for rehabilitation.
Over the course of 2019, this internationally recognised organisation – the only government-led project in Cameroon with the capacity to provide a high standard of care to wildlife – rescued 379 African grey parrots from traffickers.
Currently, LWC has 360 birds under its care. On average, a 6-month rehabilitation period is required before release. The minimal budget required for basic maintenance of this essential programme is FCFA 30 million.
The survival of Cameroon wildlife depends on sufficient funding for all aspects of care, rehabilitation and release. Stakeholders engaged in wildlife conservation must share this fundamental responsibility in Cameroon, not be placed solely on the shoulders of a single NGO.
Pandrillus Country Director, Guillaume Le Flohic, reports that this amount “represents an increase of 15% to LWC’s total budget, including subsidies from the Government of Cameroon. This figure also represents 25-30% of the funds raised each year by Pandrillus Cameroon. Without additional support, our capacity to offer the best standard of care to the birds and to maintain all the 200 primates including 15 gorillas, 43 chimpanzees and 74 drills and other mammals and reptiles under our protection, is seriously challenged”.
Le Flohic acknowledges the recent operation led by Customs within the framework of ‘Operation Halt illicit trade codenamed Operation Halcomi III. “I would like to congratulate the Cameroonian Customs, and in particular Commandant Philemon Raymond Amougou Owona, for this work well-done.”
LWC keeps down beach clean, healthy
It should be noted that, last January 18, 2020, LWC rallied students to clean up the Down Beach seashore, with message tagged stop stop pollution, Beach cleaning and protect wildlife.
Speaking to the education officer of the Limbe wildlife and zoological garden centre Ateh Wilson, he said the aim is to teach children to keep the Limbe Beach clean to attract more tourists. “As you can see the down Beach was dirty but now it’s clean, we want to thank the children from GBHS, PNEU, Chantal Biya Foundation among others for participating in the clean up campaign of the beach”, Ateh told the press.
Quizzed on his message to the population, he urged the population to always keep the environment clean, Beach for a healthy life.