5.1 TRADE IN GREAT APES AND WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT Challenges and Solutions A Case Study of Wildlife in Cameroon

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1 5.1 TRADE IN GREAT APES AND WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT Challenges and Solutions A Case Study of Wildlife in Cameroon Ofir Dori The Last Great Ape organisation (LAGA). LAGA has been tasked by the Cameroonian Government to head up their Wildlife Law Enforcement units. EXAMPLE: The Taiping Four Gorillas : Originated in Cameroon Through Ibadan Nigeria To the Taiping zoo in Malaysia What Price gorillas? $US1.6 million! Figure 1: the Taiping Four gorillas at there new home in Pretoria Zoo. Information from the Nigerian Federal Investigation Committee: Originated in Cameroon Through Ibadan Nigeria To the Taiping zoo in Malaysia The animals were shipped back to Pretoria Zoo in South Africa (Figure 1), and finally, 4 Ç years after being taken from Cameroon, they were returned, to the Limbe Wildlife Centre, in This was after repeated official requests from the Cameroonian Government.

2 Overview There is a huge financial incentive drives the international trade in great apes. Zoos can play a negative role in the illegal trade in apes through uncontrolled use of dealers. Trade in great apes is international and regulated under the CITES (Convention on Illegal trade in Endangered Species). Laws to regulate commercial trade in threatened species do exist in the sub-region but they are barely enforced in the field across Africa. Most of the countries in West and Central Africa still on zero wildlife prosecutions. There is a real need for developing effective Wildlife Law Enforcement (Figure 2 and 3). Figure 2 and 3. there is a real need for developing effective Wildlife Law Enforcement Is there real trade in great apes? EXAMPLE: Cameroon Apes and Drugs January an operation involving drugs and apes trade in Cameroon was being investigated.

3 Four large sacks of marijuana, weighing about 50Kg were seized with a young chimpanzee. Another kind of drug was also caught in possession of the dealer which he admitted was cocaine (Figures 4, 5 and 6). The drugs and wildlife dealer had been employing at least 4 poachers and had been trading other protected primates regularly. Figure 4, 5 and 6. Ape and drug smuggling in Cameroon EXAMPLE: DRC Bonobo Smuggling Affair On December 2005, two wildlife dealers, a Ukrainian and a Congolese with a Russian Passport, boarded an Air France flight from Kinshasa with a final destination Russia. In a hand bag inside the plane they transported a baby Bonobo. This was well known to Air France as the two presented a permit from the Congolese Ministry of Agriculture - Certificate of veterinary origin and health, figure 7, and were allowed to take the animal on board. Their passports show they had flown frequently on the Moscow-Kinshasa route suggesting this was not their first time smuggling. In France, following an intervention by an activist, custom authorities in the Roissy airport held the subjects with the Bonobo. The Bonobo had been confiscated but the subjects released and allowed to continue their journey to Russia. The airport authorities intended to euthanase the bonobo due to Ebola fear. This shows that it is not only African countries that are lagging behind in great ape enforcement. Foreign nationals are involved and they can move their base from one African country to another.

4 Figure 7. Veterinary Certificate for the Bonobo. Under international law, this species must be transported with CITES paperwork. EXAMPLE: Republic of Congo September 06- National Ape Dealer. The authorities have arrested a trafficker who was selling wildlife just in the center of Brazzaville in particular chimps. Apparently, he had already sold many animals including 5 baby gorillas and 10 chimpanzees. After three days in prison, he was released after an unknown person asked to release the trafficker. National dealers can be specialized Dealers can be Protected

5 EXAMPLE - Internet covering many countries E.G Michelle Gardener South Africa Figure 8. Open licence for Michelle gardener to transport pets and livestock Internet connects supply with demand and offers more opportunities for an illegal deal. Internet wildlife fraud is on the rise.

6 ORGANISED CRIME? Operations sites Wildlife traffic flow by road Wildlife traffic flow by boat Wildlife traffic flow by plane TO FAR EAST Figure 9. Overview of wildlife trafficking routs out of Cameroon, and highlighting where enforcement operations have taken place to date. Professional organized trade operates beside opportunistic speculators trying to join the game. Often in enforcement you meet the losers of the trade Figure 10 from $US100 to Figure 11 $US ?

7 Why is the law not applied? Corruption, corruption, corruption Lack of measurable standards. Lack of communication between governmental agencies. Lack of information to the public Figure 12. Can Wildlife Law Enforcement Work? LAGA s collaboration with the Government of Cameroon INVESTIGATIONS Investigators, undercover agents and informers gather precise information so that dealers in meat and the products of threatened species can be arrested in the act, producing concrete evidence for the courts. OPERATIONS LAGA technically assists MINFOF and the forces of law and order to arrest violators and to channel complaint reports to the courts. LAGA closely supervises operations in the field. Around 83% of the operations are associated with documented bribing attempts. Fighting corruption.

8 Figure 13. LAGA not only deals with illegal primate trade LEGAL ASSISTANCE LAGA formed a legal team to assist in the administrative procedures of prosecuting the first wildlife cases known in the courts of Cameroon. They have similar figures for documented bribing attempts in the courts. Figre 14. Using Media MEDIA Newsflashes on national TV and radio news. Written press concerning the success of the operations and positive court rulings. Education of the public on the change in enforcement, highlighting the increased deterrent, and classification of the illegal wildlife trade as a criminal activity.

9 Figure 15. Effective Use of Cartoons to get the anti poaching message across. Analysis of Solutions One measurable standard Prosecutions see below. Follow-up of the entire process across its different stages. Tight supervision in the field. Strong anti-corruption policy. No Case name Offence Profile Remarks Status 1 Bityeki dealing with live chimp +drugspet trade 2 Markova Yuliya dealing with a bonobo pet trade 3 Ondonda Zhilber dealing with bonobo pet trade 4 Eyong James dealing with elephants products + murder Ivory dealers Drug dealer arrested with 50 kg Marijuana, activates 5 poachers locked while on trial DRC, international ukranian ape dealer fugitive under chase DRC, international ape dealer, Russian passport fugitive under chase Killed 270 elephants, accomplice of murder of an ecoguard locked while on trial 5 camara Mohamed dealing with ivory Ivory dealers ivoirian connection to ivory trade locked while on trial Guinnean connection to ivory 6 Keita Nounke dealing with ivory Ivory dealers trade locked while on trial 7 Sanoh Ibrahim dealing with ivory Ivory dealers Guinnean connection to ivory trade locked while on trial 8 Emene Wilfried Selling young chimpanzee pet trade ape dealer trafikking between East and Yaounde locked while on trial 9 Ahanda Abomo detention of a live drill Pet trade negligence of NP project locked while on trial 10 Eyanga detention of a live drill Pet trade negligence of NP project free while on trial 11 Angoulla Angoulla Trade in crocodiles bushmeat dealer worker of logging company locked while on trial 12 Sanoh Ibrahim dealing with ivory ivory dealers repeated offender locked while on trial 13 Adamou babouga dealing with ivory Ivory dealers bamenda locked while on trial 14 Njung Bonshe dealing with chimpanzee meabushmeat dealer bamenda locked while on trial Wealthy High personality 15 Jikombe Daouda dealing with ivory ivory dealers spends half time in France locked while on trial 16 Goumbe Inoussa dealing with ivory ivory dealers Foumban locked while on trial 17 Makan Samuel dealing with ivory ivory dealers repeated offender, arrest on a ship, international trade locked while on trial 18 souleyman ali dealing with lion Lion trade Laundring illegal trade in the cover of a hunting safari locked while on trial 19 tonye Nicolas selling live chimpanzee pet trade Edéa fugitive under chase 20 boulong selling live chimpanzee pet trade Edea fugitive under chase 21 Cathérine fouda Protected animals International dealer in protected animals Underground large shop, international trafick, Daughter of first mayor of Yaounde, sister to a minister free while on trial 22 Teng Tonny dealing with ivory Ivory dealers Asian, 3.9 tonnes affair fugitive under chase 23 Teng Andrew dealing with ivory Ivory dealers Asian, 3.9 tonnes affair fugitive under chase 24 Teng Nora dealing with ivory Ivory dealers Asian, 3.9 tonnes affair fugitive under chase

10 SUMMARY Extensive and lucrative trade in great apes exists Shelters contact point with the trade is specific Wildlife Law Enforcement is possible build expectations