Ngo Bitjaga Marcelle Grace
In Cameroon, previous works have provided much interesting data on the ecology, distribution and conservation strategies of pangolins. The current project extends this research by assessing pangolin health through the diversity of parasites and the implications for conservation. Indeed, parasitic diseases can have a significant impact on wildlife. This is a major concern, particularly for the conservation of threatened species like pangolins. The study will be carried out in Deng-Deng National Park (DDNP) located in the North-Eastern part of the lowland forest of Southern Cameroon.
Threats to biodiversity in the area are poaching and illegal logging. Exacerbating these threats, the region is subject to numerous large-scale projects at the national level. This hence the destruction of natural habitats and poaching. DDNP is located in pangolin's home range in Cameroon.
The main goal of this study is to assess the health status of pangolin species from Cameroon in order to strengthen their conservation program. More specifically, we will determine the (1) frequency of pangolin in hunting offtake; (2) checklist of the parasites of pangolins’, found in DDNP, (3) influence of parasites on their life traits and (4) zoonotic potential of those parasites.
The methodology will consist of visiting hunters and houses in villages around DDNP, to collect gastrointestinal tracts and faecal samples of dead pangolin species. No living individual will be used and if encountered, we will encourage the release of the species. In order to avoid any boosting effect on the pangolin traffic, we will try to obtain the specimens for free and will not request them to inform us when they have pangolin so that collection should be opportunistic. The gastrointestinal tracts will be sampled for the searching of worms (helminths); while faecal samples will be used for the search of eggs (helminths), cysts and oocyst (protozoans). The collected specimens will be transported in containers filled with 70 % alcohol to the Laboratory of Parasitology of the University of Yaoundé 1 for the analyses.
For the sustainability of the outcomes of this project after it ends, we will document and share project experiences, lessons learned, and best practices to inform future conservation efforts. We also plan to integrate project outcomes into existing institutional frameworks, policies, or practices.