The peasants of the Bambama district in the department of Lékoumou require government compensation for the damage caused by elephants, a protected animal species, following the devastation of their plantations.
Elephants make seasonal movements in search of food. According to residents of the district, they have already destroyed several hectares of banana plantations and other food crops and angered the local population.
These residents have informed the authorities so that arrangements may be made for the elephants to be kept out of harm’s way. Farmers who have decided to keep watch to prevent these animals from ravaging their crops have asked the authorities to work diligently so that poachers do not use this opportunity as an excuse to decimate them. Similarly, they believe that these animals are in part responsible for the famine in that locality. Because of this, they point out to the relevant ministry, these privileged animals create damage at the expense of human beings.
Recall, however, that in the Congo, the protection of the elephant is ensured by law and by several organizations such as the Society for the Conservation of Wildlife (WCS), the World Wide Fund for Nature, the English World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the Project for the Application of Law for Fauna (PALF), and the Odzala-Kokoua National Park (PNOK).
The elephant is a protected species; slaughter is prohibited by Order No. 6075 MDDEFE / CAB determining the fully and partially protected species. Article 37 of Law No. 37-2008 of November 28, 2008, on wildlife and protected areas is very explicit on the same terms, and fines to pay.