Elephants have invaded the farmlands of Esobe-Idenau, South West region of Cameroon, causing residents to count their losses as a significant number of crops were destroyed in the process.
A farmer in the area told MMI that the elephants invaded the area on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. There were two of them.
“Elephants have stormed our area and destroyed a huge quantity of crops like plantains, oranges, cassava, and many others,” a local told Mimi Mefo Info.
The elephants wreaked havoc in the area, leaving farmers frustrated.
Farming is the lone source of livelihood for farmers in the area, and with the ongoing trend, they may end up with no produce in the coming farming season, the locals said.
Our source revealed that “they are always here all the time—but this time around, they have destroyed a lot. They usually come at night, but this time around, they have come during the day. Many farmers here are crying.”
Reports indicate that the elephants came from Mount Cameroon National Park, which is located a few kilometres away from Idenau.
Researchers say there were approximately 170 forest elephants at the park when it was created. In 2019, officials indicated that the park was hosting 300 elephants.
People believe that the massive conversion of forested land for crop cultivation sparked the human-elephant conflict. Farmlands, houses, and plantations now occupy most of the areas that elephants have memories of as feeding sites.
Elephants have previously caused destruction in nearby villages in the South West Region, and this is not the first time. A similar attack occurred in the same locality a few weeks ago, but this time it happened at night.
These animals have attacked and recorded human lives in other incidents.
In 2012, the villagers of Mundemba, Ndian Division, stormed the SDO’s office and demanded authorization to kill the animals. We denied your request because the 1994 Wildlife laws in Cameroon protect elephants, along with other wildlife.
