This news article is reporting on a recent event that occurred in Yaounde. According to reports on Wednesday, wildlife officials in north Cameroon face a challenge posed by a group of elephants that entered a regional capital after destroying nearby villages, resulting in the loss of two lives.
Cameroon is home to a significant population of endangered elephants, with approximately 6,830 individuals residing there, as the International Union for Conservation of Nature reported.
The population of the species in question has experienced growth in recent years, likely due to increased conservation efforts. The encroachment of plantations and villages into animal habitats results in occasional incursions of animals into human settlements, leading to damage to crops and homes and posing a threat to human safety due to potential animal aggression.
According to Jean Nyemeg, a forestry and wildlife official, four elephants recently entered Maroua, the capital of Cameroon’s Far North region, on two separate occasions. Before this, the elephants had reportedly trampled a child in a nearby village.
Nyemeg reported that the elephants searched for water, likely due to the region’s arid conditions. The herd was initially sighted near the border with Chad.
The video footage shared on social media depicted individuals dispersing and capturing videos using their mobile devices as the herd roamed along paved roads. Reuters could not confirm the authenticity of the images.
According to Nyemeg, efforts have been made by rangers on foot to attract them to a national park located approximately 120 kilometers (74.56 miles) away from Maroua.
According to Oumarou Tamboutou, the deputy mayor of the neighboring Kalfou district, a man was killed by elephants in the area last week.
Cameroonian wildlife organizations are working to address the issue of human-elephant conflict, which has previously resulted in public demonstrations, and to deter poaching.
The occurrence of droughts, which are linked to climate change, has intensified existing tensions. This is because elephants, who need water, are more likely to invade nearby villages and towns.
Aboubakar Adamou, a local development officer for the African Wildlife Foundation, stated that in the absence of water in a particular location, animals tend to move to other areas where they can access water and other resources.