Assessing Wildlife Crop Raiding and Community Response to Conservation Initiatives in the Kimbi-Fungom National Park and Its Buffer Zones, North West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

Aim: Wildlife crop raiding is a serious problem facing communities around protected areas today. This study set out to investigate the impact of wildlife crop raiding on conservation efforts in the Kimbi-Fungom National Park and its buffer zones, Cameroon. Methods: Both biological and socio-economic methods were used to achieve the aim of this study.  The biological method used transects walks, reconnaissance movements and opportunistic observations to identify and classify the different wildlife species in and around the park. The socio-economic methods employed the use of interviews, questionnaires and focus group discussions. A total of 20 long transects were randomly generated using ARCGIS and a GPS was used to trace each transect's starting and end points. Along each transect all wildlife species, either through direct observation or indirect signs, were recorded. A questionnaire and interview guide was purposely given to farmers to identify the wildlife species that visit the farms and their magnitude of destruction. A total of 150 questionnaires were administered to 150 households who were all farmers in 10 communities in and around the parks using the purposive random method. Interviews were granted to key informants and to forest guards in the park. Results: Results showed that there are 16 species of wildlife involved in crop raiding from sowing through flowering to maturing. Among the species, 100% of respondents opined that rodents frequent the farms more than any other species, while primates are the most destructive wildlife. A majority of the respondents (42%) confirmed that they guard their crops against wildlife invasion. This was followed by those who use scary items to frighten wildlife on their farms (23%).  Crop raid remains a threat to their livelihood, as confirmed by the majority (68%) of respondents. From the results obtained from the field, a majority of the respondents (50%) strongly agreed that there is always frustration and anger whenever their crops are damaged by wildlife. This was followed by those who strongly agreed that animals are not as useful to them as crops (45%). Conclusion and Recommendation: Primates and rodents are the main raiders of crops in the park, making them more vulnerable to hunting activities. Farmers argued that they cannot spare wildlife at the detriment of their crops. It is highly recommended that conservation education be encouraged in the park region.