Confiscated chimps following the arrest of a timber merchant. © LAGA.
1000 kg of ivory confiscated in Douala. © LAGA.
In 2009/10, The Rufford Foundation provided a grant of £19,039 to the Last Great Ape Organisation (LAGA).
There was a general improvement in results from all aspects of the collaboration between the LAGA and the Cameroonian Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF), a vital tool in the fight against wildlife crime. There were tangible achievements, not only in the fields of investigation, arrests and prosecution, but also in media exposure, government relations and international activities, with a continued focus on the fight against corruption. LAGA successfully improved on its 2008 results throughout 2009.
LAGA and the Government of Cameroon carried out 52 operations in seven regions resulting in 52 court cases – one for every week of the year. A total of 366 media items were put on national news. Operations became more sophisticated over the period and the rate of imprisonment of the accused individuals while awaiting trial was 71%. Corruption was observed in 77% of the cases. There was a special focus on ivory and African grey parrot traffickers, international wildlife trade involving foreigners, and those involved in cyber wildlife trade. More than a third of operations were focussed on ivory trade with 1 tonne seized in Douala, Littoral Region. Collaboration with the US Fish and Wildlife Service led to the arrest of a long time internet wildlife dealer who forged a MINFOF Minister’s signature and falsified a CITES Permit.
This year was also very significant in that LAGA was successful in replicating its activities in the Central African Republic through missions and operations, with a LAGA family member effectively starting enforcement activities. Enforcement activities initiated in 2008 in Republic of Congo continued to gain momentum.
