Care for Chimp Infants Confiscated from Poachers

Bushmeat is the main source of food for illegal miners in the forest, and the closure of mines has a direct impact on the bushmeat trade. Because of ICCN ranger patrols, there has been a decrease in mining and poaching camps within the Reserve, and increased coverage in the northern sector has provided more stability to the area which has previously not been patrolled. The regular patrols continue to maintain a relatively consistent presence in remote areas, which deters miners and poachers from entering the Reserve.

They 49 new recruits have continued to prove themselves and perform well under the harsh patrol conditions, and we plan to look for and train more rangers when funds become available to support them. More rangers on the ground result in more snares collected, more poachers arrested and the closure of additional illegal mines.

Patrol results April-June 2016:

• 133 patrols were deployed covering almost 4,200 kilometers and 377 days.
• Collected and destroyed 1,210 snares, arrested 18 people, evacuated 575 miners, and destroyed 15 mining camps and 7 poaching camps.
• A relatively low number of animal carcasses were observed (2 elephants)
• OCP is providing food rations, performance bonuses and logistical support for the rangers to control illegal activities that depend on bushmeat to survive while they are in the Reserve.