Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (WNAD)

Managing Institute:
WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)

Project Code: 012-500-011	Start Date: Jan. 20, 1994	End Date: 30/04/1994
Commitment: £13,930	Status: Completed	Type of Funding: Bilateral - TC

Project Background:
In July 1992 a herd of more than 320 elephants entered the Kaele region of northern Cameroon and began to cause substantial damge to farmers' crops. The origin of the herd is unknown. The area they have entered is not traditional elephant territory and has a relatively dense agricultural population of about 45 persons per square kilometre. To the date of writing 4 persons have been killed by elephants in the defence of their crops and many thousands of dollars worth of crops have been destroyed.

An emergency assessment of the situation was carried out by WWF in September 1992 at the request of the Minister of the Environment and Forests. This assessment recommended non-lethal control measures and assumed that because of the absence of permanent water in the area, the herd would begin to return to its place of origin in the dry season (December, 1992). It recommended that the elephants be followed to their place of origin (to Chad if necessary, in collaboration with Chadian authorities), and that they then be prevented from moving out again if they showed signs of repeating their incursion the following year.

In the event, the elephants did not return to their place of origin, possibly because of the early onset of the rains, and remained in the Kaele region until the beginning of the dry season 1993. During 1993 they were apparently joined by at least one other herd and the total elephant population in the region may now have reached 800 individuals. The precise figure has been difficult to quantify. A variety of political and economic circumstances prevented Government action during 1993. However, towards the end of 1993 the issue became politically sensitive and WWF was invited by the Prime Minister to assist in the development of a strategy for the control of this population (October, 1993).

Shortly after this, it became apparent that animals were starting to move away from the Kaele region. The direction in which they were moving did not appear to be consistent. Government obtained funding from NORAID for a seminar/workshop in March 1994 to discuss the problem. Experts from Eastern and Southern Africa participated.

Attempts to interest funding agencies in providing assistance for the control of the population showed a general willingness to assist but a distinct reluctance to fund any killing or culling of elephants. Technical experts in South Africa estimated that the whole herd could be have been eliminated in two to three days. The Government was also unwilling to allow large scale culling because of possible adverse international publicity and because it believed that the European Community would intervene with the CITES authorities to prevent the export of tusks derived from trophy hunting in Cameroon to Europe.

At this point, therefore, in view of the lack of information about the numbers and distribution of elephants in the region, it would seem that the provision of information is the most useful service that WWF could provide. This information would then help to ensure that the workshop to be held in Maroua would actually have some firm information on which to base discussion and decisions.

Project Objectives:
The objective of the project is to provide a basis for estimating the size of the elephant population and its geographical and special distribution by aerial surveys and field observations.

This information is to be presented to Government in order to permit decisions on management of migratory herd, creating conflict in Northern Cameroon, to be taken on a basis of accurate information.

Intended Outputs:
Elephant routes and movements in far-north and north Cameroon established or confirmed, through radio tracking.

Seasonal movements explained.

Causes of crop raiding by elephants determined.

Solutions to minimise or solve human-elephant conflicts proposed.