Confiscated orphaned chimpanzee

This new collaborative project aims to protect the great apes and other threatened species in the Congo Republic from illegal hunting by increasing the level of wildlife law enforcement nationwide and deterring potential ape hunters and traders from conducting these activities.

Congo contains significant numbers of two species of great apes, including several key populations identified by the IUCN and GRASP. The most immediate threat to most ape populations in The Republic of Congo is illegal hunting for meat, body parts and live infant pets. These activities are all illegal, but in the past these laws have not been properly enforced and hence the trade, and the slaughter, has been commonplace.

The proposed consortium between WCS, TAF-Congo and LAGA will work closely with the Ministry of Forestry Economy (MEF) and other government agencies to bring about the effective enforcement of these laws. This not only curtails the operations of those illegal wildlife exploiters who are prosecuted, but as awareness spreads, it will act as adeterrent and reduce the overall level of illegal hunting and trade.

In order to achieve these goals, the objectives of the project are:

• To identify large-scale dealers in great ape meat and live great apes, and other illegal wildlife products, and provide evidence to support action against them.
• To bring about the arrest of large-scale illegal wildlife exploiters.
• To ensure that the prosecution of large-scale illegal wildlife exploiters occurs, and that sentences are handed down and served.
• To raise public awareness of the increased enforcement of wildlife law and the risks and penalties for wildlife criminals.

This project with meet these objectives through five broad activities:

INVESTIGATIONS – to identify perpetrators and provide evidence for prosecution.

OPERATIONS – to ensure the arrest of perpetrators whilst engaged in the criminal act

LEGAL ASSISTANCE – to ensure that convictions are achieved and sentences served

MEDIA PROMOTION – to raise public awareness that wildlife law is actively enforced

REPORTING – to ensure transparency and provide necessary information for replication. The results of these activities will be frequent arrests and prosecutions for wildlife crimes involving great apes and other species, an increased national capacity to enforce wildlife laws, an increased public awareness of improved enforcement, and hence a reduced demand for illegally hunted apes. Outputs will include numerous media articles as well as regular, publicly available reports.

For more information, please contact:

LAGA - The Last Great Ape Organization
Vallee Nlongkak,
Yaounde, Cameroon.

Tel: +237-99651803
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http://www.laga-enforcement.org