A huge seizure of wildlife parts in January 2011, including 13 ape heads and 32 ape hands was undertaken by AALF, a replication project of LAGA’s activity in Gabon © AALF
1 tonne of confiscated ivory in Douala. © LAGA
In 2010/11, The Rufford Foundation provided a grant of £19,039 to the Last Great Ape Organisation (LAGA), through the Born Free Foundation.
LAGA is the only dedicated wildlife law enforcement NGO in West / Central Africa, working closely with the government to clamp down on illegal trade in wildlife products and live animals.
The funds from The Rufford Foundation were used to support legal work to prosecute and convict dealers, and for media operations raising awareness of wildlife trade issues and assistance in replicating the LAGA model.
Over this period, LAGA signed a further 2-year MoU with the Cameroonian Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) to continue building the legitimacy of wildlife law enforcement in Cameroon. More than one media piece per day and one operation/court case per week were initiated throughout 2010, resulting in 26 wildlife dealers being prosecuted and over $185,000 being paid to MINFOF in damages. In particular, two dealers involved in trafficking 1 tonne of ivory were sentenced to 1 year in prison and a record sum of over $116,500 in fines and damages.
Replication activities were very successful, with 1 week in November 2010 seeing arrests of over 20 dealers in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Gabon, and Republic of Congo with seizures of ivory, turtle shells and leopard and lion skins. A “LAGA Manual” has been completed, serving as a blueprint not only for replication of LAGA activities but also for organisations that intend to take up wildlife law enforcement and other conservation activities.
