Breeding as a solution to poaching in the humid forest zone of East-Cameroon?

Abstract

This study aims to provide the socio-humanitarian NGO, GeoAid International Cameroon with information that will enable it to develop livestock and improve the cane-rats project already set up. For that purpose, 492 people and 33 associations were surveyed in LOMIE, MESSOK, and NGOYLA. The collected data was processed using Microsoft office Excel and Epi Info. According the surveys, 99% of respondents are engaged in agriculture and 37% are engaged in hunting and gathering. Overall, 96% of people have at least one pet, 70.11% are male and 39.89% female. Their average age is between 35 and 55 years, 48% have an elementary school level, and 2% have undergone training on livestock. The traditional poultry farming predominates with a frequency of 78 %. Over 98% of respondents opt for straying animals. Diseases, lack of supervision and capital are the major obstacles to livestock development in this part of Cameroon. As for the cane-rats project, it targeted the hunters and the poor. As such, 165 grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) begetters (132 female and 33 male) were distributed to 33 associations. Six months later, 36.36% of the groups had totally lost their begetters, 24.24% still have all their animals, 30.30% have 03 grasscutters and, 9.1% have 02 births. There were 06 cases of gestation, and 03 farrowing. Observations made on the field reveal that: socio-cultural considerations, the lack of grasscutter breeding techniques, and the lack of health monitoring led to the loss of several grasscutters.