Some community leaders of the West Coast Cluster conservation zone of the Mount Cameroon National Park have pledged their support for the “Save the Elephants Initiative” of Voice of Nature (VoNat). Save the Elephant Initiative aims to establish an eco-friendly system that will contribute to enhancing the peaceful co-existence of the African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis) with adjacent communities of the Mount Cameroon National Park, most especially in the West Coast Cluster.
The community leaders including the Chief of Bakingili, West Coast Cluster Chairman, and West Coast Cluster Facilitator appreciated the Initiative, April 8, 2023, during a courtesy visit and consultative talk with the VoNat team.
The West Coast Cluster is one of the conservation zones of the Mount Cameroon National Park bearing the greatest burn human –elephant conflict. The VoNat delegation presented the Save the Elephants Initiative to the community leaders, who greeted it with joy and gave fresh perspective on how the Organization can easily achieve the goal of the Initiative. “You are welcome to the West Coast cluster and we hope that this your initiative will go a long way to resolve the ongoing human – elephant conflict on ground. You have our full collaboration and support in support in this initiative,” said the Traditional Ruler of Bakingili, Chief Joseph Elive.
The West Coast Cluster Facilitator, Njie Motombie Francis, thanked VoNat for coming to collaborate with the communities to contribute towards limiting human-elephant conflict in the area. VoNat will in the days ahead also carry out conservation education and sensitization about elephants in schools and the media. The pilot phase of the Save the Elephants Initiative is being supported by Lush Charity.