Aerial Surveys of Wildlife and Human Activity Across the Bouba N'djida

Aerial Surveys of Wildlife and Human Activity Across the Bouba N’djida - Sena Oura - Benoue - Faro Landscape Northern Cameroon and Southwestern Chad April - May 2015 Paul Elkan, Roger Fotso, Chris Hamley, Soqui Mendiguetti, Paul Bour, Vailia Nguertou Alexandre, Iyah Ndjidda Emmanuel, Mbamba Jean Paul, Emmanuel Vounserbo, Etienne Bemadjim, Hensel Fopa Kueteyem and Kenmoe Georges Aime Wildlife Conservation Society Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF) L'Ecole de Faune de Garoua Funded by the Great Elephant Census Paul G. Allen Foundation and WCS SUMMARY The Bouba N’djida - Sena Oura - Benoue - Faro Landscape is located in north Cameroon and extends into southwest Chad. It consists of Bouba N’djida, Sena Oura, Benoue and Faro National Parks, in addition to 25 safari hunting zones. Along with Zakouma NP in Chad and Waza NP in the Far North of Cameroon, the landscape represents one of the most important areas for savanna elephant conservation remaining in Central Africa. Aerial wildlife surveys in the landscape were first undertaken in 1977 by Van Lavieren and Esser (1979) focusing only on Bouba N’djida NP. They documented a population of 232 elephants in the park. After a long period with no systematic aerial surveys across the area, Omondi et al (2008) produced a minimum count of 525 elephants for the entire landscape. This included 450 that were counted in Bouba N’djida NP and its adjacent safari hunting zones. The survey also documented a high richness and abundance of other large mammals in the Bouba N’djida NP area, and to the southeast of Faro NP. In the period since 2010, a number of large-scale elephant poaching incidents have taken place in Bouba N’djida NP. These were documented to have involved groups of well- armed horsemen, suspected to be Sudanese and/or Chadian, who crossed into Cameroon from Chad or the Central African Republic (CAR). Initial ground-based assessments concluded that between 250 and 300 elephants had been massacred. A baseline aerial survey was undertaken in April-May 2015 to gather comprehensive information on the population status and spatial distribution of elephants, other large mammals and human activity across Bouba N’djida, Sena Oura, Benoue and Faro NPs and adjacent safari hunting zones. This updated understanding will contribute to Africa-wide efforts, through the Pan-African Aerial Survey of Elephants (PAEAS), to assess savanna elephant populations and inform targeted conservation actions at national, regional and continental levels. Following standardized and systematic methodology, strip-based sampling and reconnaissance flights were used to accurately count wildlife, elephant carcasses and human activity. This involved a rigorous capacity building and observer selection phase in which Cameroon nationals were trained in aerial survey methodology. A total of 5,412 km were flown across 180 transects over a combined survey area of 21,742 km2. Total on- transect flying time was 32.86 hours and the average search effort across 11 strata was 1.21 min/km2. The average sample fraction across the survey area was 7.90%. 2 Across the survey area only 7 elephant groups (total of 102 individuals) were observed during the entire survey (all reconnaissance and transect flying). This included one group in Bouba N’djida NP and 6 other groups. Only 12 elephants were observed on-transect (with 9 in-strip), this low count did not permit a population estimate. A minimum count of 102 was documented. For Bouba N’djida NP, total observed elephant numbers were just 2% of the 450 observed in 2008 (Omondi et al 2008). The minimum count for elephant carcasses in all age categories both inside and outside the survey strata was 253. This included 27 recent (between 1 month and a year old), 207 old (over a year old) and 19 very old (over 2 years old) carcasses. A total of 83 elephant carcasses were observed on-transect. This included 2 recent carcasses, and 81 old and very old carcasses. Ground missions to elephant kill sites, verified a total of 150 carcasses, which included 38 recent and 112 old carcasses. The highest concentrations of wildlife were observed in the Bouba N’djida NP area and the safari hunting zones east of Faro NP. The top four population estimates across all strata were Buffon’s kob (10,350), Bohor reedbuck (6,058), western hartebeest (4,124) and roan antelope (3,098). Bouba N’djida NP (particularly the southern sector the Park) had a considerably higher richness and overall abundance of wildlife than both Benoue NP and Faro NP. Giant eland had a total population estimate of 2,562. Significant numbers of giant eland were observed in the southern section of Bouba N’djida NP with groups also located in safari hunting zone 16 and Faro NP. The giant eland of this area are of national importance to Cameroon and represent a significant core area for the global population of the eastern sub-species. Compared to 2008, the extent and intensity of human activity has increased considerably. Of number one concern is the transboundary poaching threat posed to elephants by heavily armed horsemen from Chad and/or Sudan. Reports of these poachers in Bouba N’djida NP area in January-February 2015 prior to the surveys, as well as observations of recent elephant carcasses in this survey, highlight the persistence of this threat. Numerous gold mines were observed in the northwest of Bouba N’djida NP and the west and east of Benoue NP. These mines are causing widespread land degradation and are presenting significant threats to wildlife populations and human health. Heavy metal pollution associated with the on-site processing of gold has the potential to impact both the local ecology and the water quality of Lagdo Reservoir. This reservoir is a significant source of food and irrigation for the human population in the region. 3 The total cattle population estimate for all strata was 526,233 and for sheep and goats it was 28,789. The cattle count in this survey was 348% higher than that of 2008 in which 25,264 were observed. Southeast and northeast Benoue NP, northern Bouba N’djida NP and southwest Faro NP were hotspots of pastoralism pressure. It is suspected that the conflict crises in Nigeria and CAR and transhumance from these countries into Cameroon is the primary driver of this livestock increase. Due to security constraints associated with the Boko Haram conflict, planned aerial surveys to assess the population status of elephants in Waza NP could not be completed. With Boko Haram related violence extending up to the border of Waza NP, there are major concerns for the security of this population and there is potential for elephant poaching and ivory trafficking to help fuel their insurgency. The Bouba N’djida - Sena Oura - Benoue - Faro Landscape faces a complex conservation crisis that has local, national and international dimensions. This is demonstrated through the results of this survey which show a major decline in elephant populations and on- going wildlife threat across the landscape and in particular inside national parks. Elephants and other large mammals do however remain in viable numbers in pockets of habitat and there is high potential for their recovery if the right conservation actions are undertaken. Future wildlife survival across the landscape will require a multi-faceted strategy that leads to substantial improvements in protected area management, border security, anti- trafficking and community operations. The protected area approach should be focused on firstly securing existing wildlife and then scaling up to ensure the rehabilitation and recovery of areas currently experiencing unsustainable human use. This should include a targeted and well-resourced elephant security component that comprehensively addresses the transboundary incursions of heavily armed poachers. Inter-agency cooperation (including military, wildlife, police, local authorities, AFRICOM and other international security agencies…) should be developed. Securing elephants across the landscape and establishing effective protected area management systems will contribute to the security of both wildlife and people throughout the area and contribute to stabilization and conflict mitigation. 4 RECCOMMENDATIONS The following targeted recommendations have been selected based on consideration of successful national park operations elsewhere in Africa and the specific context in Cameroon: Overall recommendations and security measures Develop inter-agency conservation-security partnership cooperation (including military, wildlife, police, local authorities, AFRICOM and other international security agencies…) to share information, detect and address poaching and trafficking threats, deter poaching and trafficking threats, secure remote areas and project sound governance. Develop and implement a national elephant conservation and management strategy for Cameroon. Develop transboundary elephant protection cooperation between Chad-Cameroon- Nigera (particularly on Cameroon-Chad and Cameroon – Nigeria key areas) targeting security of transboundary and border elephant populations. Establish strong legal protections for elephant corridors and dispersal areas. Ensure full implementation by the judiciary and prisons of new/recently established laws on wildlife trafficking. Investigate and prosecute officials suspected to be involved in corrupt activities relating to wildlife crime and misappropriation of national park funds. Establish strong national park management systems across the Bouba N’djida – Sena Oura –

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