ABOYERD

Last week, we were thrilled to spend time in the Mbam et Djerem landscape with Marie Furtado from the PPI - Programme de Petites Initiatives. As project evaluator, Marie met with the indigenous communities and local stakeholders we are working with, assessed our activities on the ground and discussed future perspectives for our work.
Her constructive feedback and insights will help us strengthen our interventions and increase the impact of our conservation actions on the ground. We’re deeply grateful for her visit and continued support!

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Alpha — the name says it all. He is the very first pangolin we successfully rescued, rehabilitated, and released back into the wild, marking a historic milestone for our pangolin conservation efforts in the Mbam et Djerem National Park (MDNP).
On Friday, January 30, 2026, the vigilant ecoguards of MDNP intercepted traffickers and saved Alpha from an uncertain fate. Their swift action set in motion a chain of hope. With expert guidance from our partners at the Tikki Hywood Foundation (THF), careful procedures to ensure Alpha’s safety and restore his health were quickly implemented.
Once cleared to have no wounds, no serious dehydration, good body condition, normal behaviour, Alpha became part of something bigger — the story of resilience and renewal. Drawing on years of scientific study on pangolin distribution and habitat use within the park and working hand in hand with park staff and THF experts, we identified the perfect site for his release. And there, amidst the whispering leaves and soft forest floor, Alpha took his first steps home — a symbol of what collaboration, science, and compassion can achieve.
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Mesdames et messieurs, voici Alpha — un nom qui en dit long. Il est le tout premier pangolin que nous avons réussi à sauver, réhabiliter et relâcher dans la nature, marquant ainsi une étape historique dans nos efforts de conservation des pangolins au Parc National du Mbam et Djerem (PNMD).

Le vendredi 30 janvier 2026, les écogardes vigilants du PNMD ont intercepté des trafiquants et ont sauvé Alpha d’un sort incertain. Leur action rapide a déclenché une véritable chaîne d’espoir. Grâce aux conseils avisés de nos partenaires de la Tikki Hywood Foundation (THF), des mesures précises ont été mises en œuvre pour garantir la sécurité d’Alpha et restaurer sa santé.

Une fois confirmé qu’il ne présentait aucune blessure, aucune déshydratation sérieuse, un bon état corporel et un comportement normal, Alpha est devenu le symbole de quelque chose de plus grand — une histoire de résilience et de renouveau.

En nous appuyant sur des années d’études scientifiques portant sur la répartition et l’habitat des pangolins dans le parc, et en collaborant étroitement avec le personnel du PNMD et les experts de la THF, nous avons identifié le site idéal pour sa réintroduction. C’est là, au milieu des feuilles murmurantes et du sol forestier moelleux, qu’Alpha a fait ses premiers pas vers son foyer — le symbole vivant de ce que la collaboration, la science et la compassion peuvent accomplir

Early last year, ABOYERD worked with indigenous communities around Campo Ma’an National Park to conduct a diagnostic study. The goal: identify lucrative, locally relevant livelihood activities that boost biodiversity conservation while enhancing community incomes. Fish farming topped the list for Mabiogo village residents.

Over the past month, our team has collaborated with Mabiogo's people to develop a natural fishpond. This serves as a sustainable alternative to hunting and a protein source replacing bushmeat. We've stocked it with 1,200 healthy fingerlings and provided comprehensive training on key aspects: sourcing and transporting fingerlings, site preparation and pond construction, fish feed production, and ongoing pond management.

The community is thrilled and already tending the pond with great care, anticipating their first harvest in four months.

Awareness campaigns!
School wildlife clubs!
Culturally rooted sensitization efforts!
Livelihood incentives!

In conservation, we can’t underestimate the power of these approaches. In just one year, communities around the Mbam Djerem National Park have drastically reduced pangolin meat consumption. Those who once considered pangolins as ordinary bushmeat dropped from 42% to just 11%, while support for pangolin protection surged to 81%.

This remarkable shift is the direct result of sustained community engagement awareness campaigns, youth-led wildlife clubs, and culturally rooted sensitization efforts all made possible thanks to the support of Play for Nature early in 2024.

Awareness is only the first step toward lasting change. That’s why, beyond environmental education with our School Wildlife Clubs around Campo Ma’an National Park, we’re partnering with Up2green to help young people take action, through pro-biodiversity livelihoods such as agroecological market gardening. Together, we’re turning knowledge into meaningful action for these youngsters and nature.