Human-Elephant Conflict Erupts: Kalfou’s Stray Elephant’s Rampage Ends in Tragic Shooting After Causing Havoc Amidst Growing Conflict
Kalfou, Far North Region, Cameroon – In a tragic turn of events on January 10, 2025, a wandering elephant in the locality of Kalfou was shot down after causing widespread terror and significant material damage. Wildlife agents, with the support of local residents, neutralized the elephant following the governor’s authorization. This incident underscores the persistent human-elephant conflict in Cameroon, highlighting the ongoing challenges in conservation efforts and community safety.
Kalfou and its neighboring areas have long struggled with managing wild animals, especially elephants, that stray into human settlements. These encounters frequently lead to confrontations, resulting in substantial losses on both sides. The community’s decision to share the elephant meat post-operation highlighted the dire economic situation of the local populace, transforming what could have been a somber event into a moment of communal relief.
The situation in Kalfou is a stark reminder of the ongoing human-elephant conflict in Cameroon. Elephants, classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), are increasingly encroaching on human habitats due to habitat loss and fragmentation. These incursions often result in the destruction of crops, property, and occasionally, even human casualties.
The residents of Kalfou, a town and commune in the Mayo-Danay Division of the Extrême-Nord region of Cameroon, near the Chad border, have expressed their frustration over the government’s handling of the situation. In 2005, the population of Kalfou was 26,223, with 3,669 of those living in the town itself. The commune also includes the localities of Baga, Bougay, Daïba, Dinao, Djabewal, Gobio, Golopo, Goulourgou, Guinane, Hamdallao, Kouro, and Lokoro.
Residents have taken to the streets, blocking National Highway No. 12 in protest against the extensive destruction wrought by wandering elephants. “People want to block the road to express their dissatisfaction with the state’s inaction regarding the damage caused by elephants,” said a local source. Jean-Lazare Ndongo Ndongo, the Senior Divisional Officer of the Mayo Danay department, traveled from Yagoua to engage with protesters in Kalfou, attempting to appease the agitated community.
The international community has also weighed in on the situation. Conservation organizations have called for better management of wildlife reserves and more effective measures to prevent human-elephant conflicts. “The government is against our animals going stray but animals under government care move anyhow and cause damage. Shall our councils and palaces catch those destructive animals as they do with our goats?” asked Nsobuka Gabriel. This concern has been echoed globally, with international wildlife conservation groups emphasizing the critical need for improved strategies to balance human and elephant coexistence.
The Kalfou Wildlife Reserve, spanning over 200,000 square meters, is home to a significant population of elephants, which are a protected species in Cameroon. The increasing populations of both humans and elephants have led to more frequent confrontations over land use. Elephants often leave their reserve in search of food while humans expand their farmland deeper into these areas to boost their harvests.
The tragic incident in Kalfou has sparked a wide range of opinions among Cameroonians, many of which have been captured by the Uncle Ne Newspaper (UNN). Fai Theophile suggested a “better and formidable protection of the park boundaries,” advocating for villages to be encouraged to move a greater distance from protected areas to avoid further infiltration by poachers. George Fuhkum criticized the handling of the situation, stating, “They could have anaesthetized the elephant and taken it to a secured place. Poor wildlife conservation!”
Nsobuka Gabriel voiced his frustration by highlighting the inconsistency in government policy, asking, “The government is against our animals going stray but animals under government care move anyhow and cause damage. Shall our councils and palaces catch those destructive animals as they do with our goats?” Similarly, Joke Roberts lamented the government’s approach, stating, “The Government keeps breaking its own laws. An animal which is gradually going to extinction and protected worldwide should have been tranquilized and taken to a safer zone. The Wildlife Protection Foundation should go after the individuals who broke the law for the animal to be killed.”
Raymondo Rtexas pointed out the discrepancy in conservation efforts between countries, saying, “Imagine in some countries, they are doing everything to keep these animals from going extinct. But in Cameroon, there’s no zoo where they are found.” Meanwhile, Wilo Wilocious expressed the view that humans are to blame for encroaching on elephant habitats, saying, “Human beings are to blame for encroaching on areas that are frequented by elephants. It’s bad. The governor must be apprehended.”
Mr. Mveh Pascal, Program Coordinator at the Centre for Research, Environmental Protection and Conservation (CeREPC), an NGO active in the conservation of elephants and African endemic species in Cameroon, criticized the killing of the elephant as authorized by Governor Midjiyawa Bakary. He stated, “This action could spark a wave of impunity, where the population might misunderstand it as a green light to kill these animals. It undermines our conservation efforts and sends the wrong message about wildlife protection.”
Local conservation organizations echoed these sentiments. “The killing of the elephant, although done under extreme circumstances, sets a dangerous precedent. We must focus on preventive measures and non-lethal solutions to manage human-wildlife conflicts,” said a spokesperson from the National Conservation Initiative (NCI) Cameroon.
Bisi Gina Essokwe Fuh the National Coordinator for Association of Cameroon Youths Associations(AC-YA) an organization that engages youths in conservation initiatives nationally insisted that this incident, underscores the critical need for mass education and sensitization of local populations on the importance of conserving endangered species like the African Savanna elephant. Conservation efforts must be intensified to protect these majestic creatures while ensuring the safety and livelihood of local communities. Collaboration between the government, wildlife conservation organizations, and local communities is essential to develop and implement effective strategies to mitigate human-elephant conflicts. This includes creating buffer zones, enhancing park boundaries, and promoting sustainable land-use practices.
The MRC party, through its National President, Prof. Maurice Kamto, expressed deep concern over the situation in Kalfou. They highlighted the repeated incursions of elephants from the forest reserve, causing significant agricultural losses and distress among the residents. The MRC criticized the government’s failure to manage human-wildlife conflicts and protect rural communities, calling for immediate measures to compensate affected farmers and provide emergency food aid. They also urged for reinforced management of the Kalfou forest reserve to contain the elephants within their natural habitat using fences and buffer zones, emphasizing the need for responsible and inclusive actions to prevent a humanitarian disaster and uphold the dignity of rural populations.
The Uncle Ne Newspaper also captured varied opinions that raised very worrying views, implying that extinction meant nothing to them. Ramani Abdu questioned the prioritization of wildlife over human safety, asking, “Is the animal more important than the people in that area?” Agroyouth Cig expressed skepticism about conservation efforts, stating, “Dinosaurs were protected yet they still went extinct.” Emma Bote argued that human survival should take precedence, saying, “If it’s extinct, we humans will still live. It’s not a member of our family.” Ernest Ndey similarly questioned the significance of the animal’s extinction, asking, “What will happen if it is extinct?”. These opinions reflect a troubling disregard for the extinction of elephants. Individuals like Ramani Abdu, Agroyouth Cig, Emma Bote, and Ernest Ndey suggest that human survival takes precedence over wildlife conservation, failing to recognize the broader ecological impact of losing such a keystone species. The Uncle Ne Newspaper want to highlight that, despite your your take on this, that while the loss of human life and property is tragic, the extinction of elephants would be an irreplaceable loss to biodiversity. It is imperative that all stakeholders work together to find a balanced solution that protects both humans and wildlife.
By Tata Nelson Berinyuy, Journalist,
Uncle Ne Newspaper (UNN)