Other species that we help protect in Central Africa

A pangolin offered for sale in the Cameroonian city of Mbama. Photo: Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo

Among the most threatened species are:

Pangolins (Smutsia gigantea, Phataginus tetradactyla, P. tricuspis)

Pangolins are currently believed to be the most trafficked mammals in the world, primarily due to their scales, which are in high demand in Asia. The scales are used in so-called "traditional" medicine, and the populations of Asian pangolins are no longer able to meet the demand. As a result, attention has turned to Africa, from where pangolin scales are now exported on a large scale. A poacher receives about 1,000 Central African francs (roughly €1.50) for the scales of a long-tailed pangolin, and ten times that for a kilogram of giant pangolin scales.

Pangolin meat is also considered a delicacy in Cameroon. Unlike in rural areas where bushmeat may be a necessity, consumption in cities is driven more by personal preference. This has created unsustainable hunting pressure. In Cameroonian urban markets, pangolin meat sells for 500 to 2,500 Central African francs (approx. €0.75–3.80), making it accessible to all income groups. Surveys indicate that up to half of consumers—including those with low incomes—are willing to pay a premium for it. As a result, pangolins are commonly sold in markets, restaurants, and street food stalls, despite being subject to the highest level of protection.

Market demand poses a serious threat to pangolins, especially given their slow reproductive rate. They typically give birth to only one offspring at a time and have a generation time of around eight years.

Forest Elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis)

Large mammals such as elephants and great apes play a crucial role in forest ecosystems as seed dispersers. Over 100 plant species have been identified in the dung of forest elephants. In this way, elephants contribute to forest regeneration and help maintain biodiversity. Their hunting can therefore disrupt complex ecological relationships, potentially worsening the impacts of climate change in the region.

Among farmers living near forests, elephants are often seen as pests that destroy crops. However, they are shot for many reasons, including for their meat and ivory. According to a pygmy hunter from the Dja region, every part of an elephant can be sold: skin, ears, tail, brain, even dung. Globally, the population of forest elephants has experienced a dramatic decline, with numbers dropping by more than half in just ten years.

Forest elephants from the Dja reserve. Photo: Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo