Cameroon
Cameroon Country Profile
Cameroon is a country in Central Africa, with a coastline along the Bight of Biafra. It borders the countries Gabon, Central African Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Chad and Nigeria and covers an area of 475,440 km2. With a population of over 30 million, and 24 major African language groups, Cameroon’s official languages are French and English.
Geography & Wildlife
Described as ‘Africa in miniature’, the climate of Cameroon varies with the terrain, from tropical coastal plains, tropical rainforests in the southern interior, to being semiarid and hot in the plains of the north. There are mountains to the east (Mount Cameroon being its highest) and a dissected plateau in the centre.
Cameroon’s wildlife varies from the forest elephant, leopard, western lowland gorilla and central chimpanzee, pangolins and many primate species including the black colobus living in the forested regions, to lions and giraffes of the semiarid north.
The country also boasts an isolated population of the rare and Critically Endangered Cross River gorilla, which lives in the Cross River region along the boundary with Nigeria.
Main Conservation Challenges
Deforestation, forest fragmentation and degradation for timber, mining, agriculture, etc. Poaching, overfishing, overhunting.
Our work in Cameroon
© Limbe Wildlife Centre
LIMBE WILDLIFE CENTRE
Animals: chimpanzees / gorillas / other primates
Supported since: 2004
Work: welfare & captivity / education
Providing high standards of care for chimpanzees, gorillas and other primates rescued from the exotic pet trade – many of which are ‘bushmeat orphans’, whose families have been killed for food. Wherever possible, rehabilitated primates are released back into the wild. Limbe also operates extensive local outreach and education programmes.
© www.christophermichel.com
GUARDIANS OF DJA
Animals: gorillas / chimpanzees
Supported since: 2022
Work: conservation
To increase the abundance of rare chimpanzees and gorillas in a great ape conservation priority area, the Dja Biosphere Reserve (DBR), Cameroon, and to foster a sustainable coexistence between local people and wildlife.
(c) Ian Bickerstaff, Ape Action Africa
APE ACTION AFRICA
Animals: gorillas / chimpanzees / other primates
Supported since: 2014
Work: rescue & welfare / education / conservation
Ape Action Africa’s core mission is the rescue, rehabilitation, and long-term care of endangered primates in Cameroon. They run the well-renowned Mefou Primate Sanctuary. The sanctuary, set in 1,000 hectares (2,500 acres) of rainforest in southern Cameroon, takes in orphaned and injured gorillas, chimpanzees and other primates. They also have a very active education department, providing outreach to communities around the sanctuary.