Four notorious parrot poachers operating in East Cameroon have pleaded guilty to capture, killing, and illegal detention of African grey parrots, classified as totally protected bird species in Cameroon.

The wildlife offenders pleaded guilty during a hearing at a Yokadouma Magistrate Court on Tuesday, September 16, 2014, in a matter pitting them against the Ministry of Forests and Wildlife, MINFOF, heard by Judge Mgbe-Kamble M. Soulemanou.

They face jail terms of at least one year each, as ruling for the matter has been adjourned for September 30, 2014.

The four named Ignace Onankoa Onana, Egnegue Akoa Hubert, Joseph Essindi and the recidivist parrot poacher, Roger Atangana, were apprehended on Tuesday, September 11, 2014, around Djangui forest clearing inside Lobéké National Park by a mixed patrol team comprising eco-guards of MINFOF and elements of the military (CIM) in Moloundou. At the end of a two-day mission inside the park, eleven life parrots and 30 smoked parrot heads were seized from the culprits.

All four parrot poachers have been slammed jail terms in the past, yet were caught in wildlife crimes for which they were jailed. The four were facing trial for illegal entry into a protected area and illegal capture and detention of protected species.

The Counsel for the civil party, Barrister Victor Djimi, told the court the offenders were convicted recently and as soon as they regained their liberty they went back and committed the same crime.

He prayed all parties, including penitentiary authorities, to play their role so that the protection of the country’s wildlife can be effective. The lawyer urged the court to impose a fine of FCFA 12,000,000 for general damages.

Atangana Roger, 55 years old, is a legendary parrot poacher who has been condemned five times since 2004 for capture of parrots inside Lobéké National Park. In February 2012, Atangana, was jailed for 30 months (2 years 6 months) in prison and was asked to pay a fine of FCFA 2 million.

According to Hilaire Ndinga, Conservator of Lobeke National Park, a joint mission of the conservation service of the park (MINFOF, WWF) with the collaboration of the motorized Infantry Battalion of Moloundou permitted the arrest of the four parrot poachers.

This is a good collaboration between the conservation service on the one hand, the forces of law and order and other stakeholders such as the local communities, on the other hand facilitates the effective fight against poaching.

“There is need for good application of the law so that everyone is conscious of conservation and sustainable management of wildlife,” he states. Dr. Germain Ngandjui, Programme Manager of WWF Jengi Lobéké-TNS, says he “trusts that the court will hand down deterrent sentences so as to protect the world’s endangered species.

“We congratulate the eco-guards and soldiers that jointly carried out this operation and brought the wildlife offenders to face justice. More efforts will be made to protect the grey parrot and also to keep the Lobéké National Park safer,” Dr. Ngandjui states.