Korup National Park authorities turn illicit Hunters into Bike riders

In a way to stop poaching in the Korup National Park in the South West region of Cameroon, the authorities have devised a way to discourage illegal hunters from hunting down the game found in the Reserve by handing over motor bikes to the hunters who have been killing the animals for a livelihood. The hunters will now become bike riders to earn a living and in that way, stopping illegal hunting of endangered species inside the Korup National Park.

Tuesday the 23^rd of MAY, ten hunters including Sona Ebongwe handed over their guns to the authorities and signed for new motor bikes which according to Mr. Sona, is a life changing opportunity. He also said “I am very happy for what the authorities have done to us, hunting is quite a risky deal because we can either be caught by the administration and brought to justice or killed by a raging elephant or buffalo. Now I will have to spend most of my time around people not the bush.”

Poaching has been one of the major factors reducing the number of wildlife in the Game Reserve and the authorities have been working day and night for measures to curb this illicit practice among the villages around the area and this idea seems to be working.