Our Work

IDEA WILD FINAL REPORT 2021_Esong Lionel Ebong

Study area
This study was conducted in Deng-Deng National Park (DDNP) located in the Eastern Region of
Cameroon in the Lom et Djerem Division (5°–5° 25′ N/13°–23° 34′ E,). Deng-Deng National Park
is characterized by an equatorial and humid climate with annual rainfall ranging between
1,500 and 1,600 mm (Diangha, 2015). It is located in the forest–savannah transition zone of the
country. The park area experiences seasonal dry and wet periods (Diangha, 2015), and other than
pangolins, it harbors vulnerable wildlife species including gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), chimpanzee
(Pan troglodytes) and forest elephant (Loxodonta africana) (Maisels et al., 2011).

Objectives

To confirm and document the presence of Smutsia gigantea in the Park using camera traps.
To assess the habitat preference and relative population density of giant pangolins in the
different habitat types.
Map out and describe anthropogenic activities occurring in and around the park and their
impact on species welfare.
To divert community’s attention from forest resources to alternative livelihoods by building
local awareness and developing environmental education programs for schools.

COMMUNITY RANGER TRAINING MANUAL

The MBZCF for the Community Rangers Project entails an in-depth skill building and awareness
of the local guides to be able to effectively function as citizen scientists. It is in line that this
working document is developed to guide the training and expansion of the community rangers
program.

Module 1: Introduction to Pangolins Socio-ecology

The topography and elevation.
Water points.
Weather.
Foliage and Vegetation Canopy.
Other species and man.

Module 2: Ecology of DDNP

Vegetation type
Species diversity
Slope variation
Water bodies

Module 3: Survey methods of Pangolins

Recce methods.
Direct observation.
Local Ecological. knowledge (LEK) and community opinion is usually a good source of
information about species population status and threats. In the field, the LEK serves
well in identifying species sign, age of sign, track, and possibly the direction of
movement.

PRELIMINATY REPORT ON FIELD WORK AND BIOMONITORING

This report is centered on community and environmental activities, critical in boosting community participation and understanding in the need of the conservation of the Giant bellied pangolins in Deng-Deng national Park. Specific objectives: It was for us to:

To activate environmental clubs and implement
environmental education in schools.
Raise awareness and boast the sense of belonging through community inter-pangolins football animation.

PRELIMINARY REPORT COMMUNITY RANGER PROJECT

General Objective: To train 06 local field assistants in biomonitoring of pangolins using SMARTsurvey tools; camera trapping, GPS, cyber-tracking, and data collection and recording on fielddataforms for the long-term collaborative conservation of pangolins in the Deng-Deng National Park. Specific objectives: It was for us to:

Train and equip 06 disengaged hunters as local field assistantsto foster the surveillance,
Document pangolin in their habitats using Camera trapping,
Assessbushmeat harvest and wildlife trade in and around DDNP via key informant and bushmeat dealers,
To suppress anthropogenic threats by removing human installations like snares, hunters’ houseand
Raise awareness and boast the sense of belonging through community inter-pangolins football
animation. Equipment used.
- Map of the study site, two Hand held GPS units Garmin 65s, Camera Traps, Lensaticmilitary Compass, a stopwatch, one digital camera NIKON, Energizer Batteries as well
  as spare batteries for both the cameras and the GPS, 15 SD Cards Sandisk, 10headtorches, data collection forms, a note book “write in the rain”, tents, sleepingmats, Protective clothing, machetes and files.

PROGRESS REPORT ON COMMUNITY RANGERS PROJECT

Preliminary results

The presence of Pangolins in the study site of the Deng-Deng National Park (DDNP) based on Camerasinstalled in the southern forest zone shows a majority with successful detection and taking images of animals in general and mainly that of the Pangolin. The cameras confirmed the presence of Pangolins inthe park as well as in the different installation locations considered namely: simple dead tree trunks deadtree trunks with burrows housing and ground housing burrows (Fig 3E), tree trunks with sites nutritionand ground nutrition sites. And in different types of forests namely: mixed forests with open undergrowth(FMSO), mixed forests with closed undergrowth (FMSF), in mixed liana forests (FML), in a savannahforest transition zone (F-S) and the marsh/swamps with Raphia. The pangolin species photographedinthis area of the park is mostly Phataginus tricuspis, (White-bellied Pangolin) with just two photos of thegiant pangolin.