South West: Conservation officials have issued a warning to the local population of Bakingili in the South West region, cautioning against consuming the meat of an elephant that was found dead on January 16. Experts fear that eating the meat could lead to infections.
According to Cameroon News Agency, the elephant, which presumably died of natural causes, was discovered and butchered into pieces by locals on the same day. Conservation specialists from the Limbe Zoological Garden reported that large maggots were found on the carcass, suggesting that the elephant might have been infested while still alive.
Dr. Etta Agbor Hans, a conservator, stated that a mixed team reached the site shortly after the elephant’s death. They conducted observations and extracted samples for testing. Dr. Agbor warned locals against consuming the meat due to the potential for severe health consequences.
Despite these warnings, Dr. Etta observed that locals did not heed the advice at the site. He further criticized the decision to distribute the animal’s meat, stating it was done in violation of existing forestry guidelines. “Those who have collected parts of the animal should know that they did it in violation of the law,” Dr. Agbor emphasized.