Threats include seasonal shifting cultivation, over grazing by livestock, over-cutting of wood for domestic energy needs, uncontrolled immigration, devastating wildfires, trophy hunting, poaching and the use of pesticide in fishing.<br /> <br /> Some of the protected areas have been completely occupied by migrants especially from neighbouring countries in search of fertile land around the Benue National park considered a priority zone for the Cameroon government because of rich biodiversity. One of the intermittent but dangerous factors in the zone is the role of highway robbers who make some of these parks their ambush zones. In the process, they also go on wild hunting of animals. Cross border hunting into the parks says WWF is equally responsible for the disappearance of a good number animal. <br /> <br /> Illegal hunters from neighbouring Chad, Nigeria, and the Central African Republic have been caught several times in the parks according to the eco-guards. Recently, six Chadian hunters were caught in the Waza Park.<br /> <br /> Migration like transhumance is equally responsible for the slow but steady disappearance of wildlife species in Cameroon’s North. There is an enormous conflict between cattle’s rearers and parks. Wild life parks are increasing being encroached by cows. In the Waza parks, there is a strong pressure of 21.000 cows posing conflict between the cattle and some carnivorous animals such as lions which attack the cows for food. In turn,, the rearers also hunt down the lions especially when their cows are killed.. In fact, the proximity of settlement to the parks has promoted the high rate of conflict between settlers and the wildlife. Lions are said to be hunting domestic animals such as sheep and goats. Mr Bene Bene Christopher Lambert who is the project officer of the WWF Central African Regional Programme Office (CARPO). Notes that one of the main problems of the parks is their non-delimitations, which allows for rampant encroachments. <br /> <br /> The encroaching population pressure on the parts (WAZA, Benue, FARO, BOUBA Ndjida, Kalamabe and Mozo Gokoro) is having untold effects on them. One of the main activities is the over-cutting of wood for domestic energy supplies which is reducing the habitat of these animals. “It is difficult to separate people who have lived most of their lives on an environment” says Mr. Bene Bene. He says the only way out is to create alternative ways of poverty alleviation programmes. He adds that the development of eco-tourism can also go a long way to save the parks within the Northern savanna – which support large populations of mammals and birds that migrate seasonally given long periods of dry season. In the Waza Park, where the first effective animal counts was. Conducted late last year there is an estimated 496 elephants, 604 giraffes, 1600 antelopes, 05 lions and more. “Since 2000, we have been working hand-in-hand with the Government here, says the WWF Project officers,” We support with anti-poaching patrols, supply consumable needs to the guards and follow-up judicial procedures”. “It is difficult to declare officially the decreasing rate of wildlife here since we are still doing the head account” says the North Provincial Delegate of Forest and Wildlife Mr. Zourma Juoullier. He however admits that there is a real problem which is poaching. Besides sensitising the population which Mr. Zourma says there is absolutely engaged in, there have been arrests and imprisonment. “Almost 60 percent of the prisoners in Tchollire are poachers”. Asserts the Delegate. <br /> <br /> Of late, the Government has stepped up the anti-poaching campaign. Recently 1000 grey parrots were seized at the Douala port en route for exportation. On February 2008, a certain Mr. Boubakari Sindiki was caught at Ngaoundéré with 48 elephant tusks. A man was caught with gorillas heading for Douala. All of these are either in prison or under trial. Working hand-in-hand with an international NGO, the last Great Ape Organisation (LAGA) the Government has stepped up its anti-poaching campaign. In the words of Mr. OFIR Drori, Director of LAGA – Cameroon, “LAGA was born following the increasing threat to Africa’s great Apes and other endangered wild life species notably elephants, lions, leopards, giant pangolin and parrots brought about by illegal commercial hunting and associated trade and which require urgent action to stop the deals.” <br /> <br /> Forest and Wildlife Minister, Elvis Ngolle Ngolle insists that the law must be implemented with all vigour while the population should at the same time be sensitised.<br /> <br /> Keywords: cameroon nature bushmeat development