50 Community Kids Selected to Conserve Endangered Ape of Mount Cameroon

Some 50 kids and youths from Bokova, Bwiteva, Bwitingi, Bokwango and Bokwai communities of the Mt Cameroon Area have been selected to be part of Voice of Nature (VoNat)’s project to conserve the Nigerian Cameroon Chimpanzee(NCC) and other endangered species in the Mount Cameroon National Park. The Mount Cameroon National Park is a-58,154 hectare IUCN Category II protected area created by the Cameroon Government in 2009.

**A cross-section of kids taking pre-selection quiz for Keep the Apes Alive Project in GHS Buea Rural-Bokova**. Photo Credit: *Sandrine Akeabeh, VoNat*

It is host to one of the most endangered apes and the most endangered chimpanzee subspecies, Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee (NCC). This great ape and other endangered species like the forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis), Pressus monkey (Allochrocebus preussi) parrot (Pternistis camerunensis) and francolin (Francolinus camerunensis) and Africa Zebrawood (Microberlinia bisulcata) are fast disappearing due to illegal hunting and exploitation with little or no involvement of community kids and youths who hold the key to future environmental sustainability.

**Selected kids for Keep the Apes Alive Project Pose with VoNat team.** *Photo Credit:* *Sandrine Akeabeh, VoNat*

The 50 kids and youths selected through a quiz on the knowledge of the Mount Cameroon National Park and species therein, will between December 2021 and August 2022 be engaged in saving the endangered NCC and other endangered species. This will be through orientation and education sessions on the ecology and conservation importance of NCC and other wildlife species. They will also carry out biomonitoring in the Mount Cameroon National Park and gather local conservation knowledge about plants and animal species from adjacent communities. All these will culminate in the production of conservation poems, music, video reports, articles, magazine etc. and a media visitation to sensitize the community about conservation amongst others.

In excitement and great anticipation, the kids selected with the consent of their parents, expressed appreciation to VoNat and partners and promised to be committed, obedient and collaborative through out the project period.

It is hoped that this project will reconnect the youngsters to nature, boost their appetite in conservation and willingness to take action against the depletion of endangered species in their communities amongst others. The project is carried out with support from New England Biolabs Foundation and Idea Wild.

By Akeabeh Sandrine