Zecchini, A., 1999. Le rhinoceros noir au Cameroun doit survivre. Courrier de la Nature 179: 34-39, figs. 1-4, map 1
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| Location: |
Africa - Western Africa - Cameroon |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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Up to the second world war, the rhinos had 3 main threats: the sports hunting, hunting for food, and trade of the horn. From 1925-1935, the price of the horn increased considerably. One threat is poaching. But also there is the pressure of the human population. The drought in the area at the northern side of its area of distribution has generated an influx of immigrants southwards. Those immigrants, mainly farmers, often do not follow the law and order which has always been a pillar of society in Cameroon. Also, all rural populations are increasingly poor, which makes them to overexploit the natural resources (cutting of trees for agriculture and firewood, poaching). At the same time the growing of cotton is a threat, as this is the only local cash crop and it takes more and more space. Some protected areas are being declassified to make space for cotton. The `invasion' of cotton is in two pockets which separate the Faro and B?nou? on one side, and the B?nou? and Bouba Ndjidah on the other side. The climate is also changing. The rainy eason is short, 4-6 months, with 850 mm annual rainfall. The temperatures average 35-45 degrees. The dominant vegetation is dry savannah with shrubs and treees. The watercourse, locally called mayo, are often partly or totally dry in the dry season.There is also a problem of insecurity. The government has few funds available for protection and its actions shows some failures. The local populations usually view the wildlife as an obstacle to their activities. That antagonism is neither recent nor limited to Cameroon. The hunting zones are often licensed to foreign hunters. The local population benefits indirectly, but they receive only a small part of the profit: 3 % in 1994-1995, against 25 % to the state and 72 % to the professional hunters.'
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Le rhinoceros noir au Cameroun doit survivre
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