Pangolin Conservation Comics Kids Project
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‘GIMLA’ a heroic pangolin, fights for survival from hunters in a comic book illustrated- narrative of the rampant poaching activities in the Campo Ma’an forest.
Background.
Many Cameroonians prefer bushmeat to domestic livestock as they are easily available and cheaper. According to www.downtoearth.org at least 400,000 pangolins are hunted and consumed in Central Africa each year. Cameroon hosts three species of pangolin white-bellied, black-bellied and giant. Researchers have warned that loss of pangolins could have drastic ecological and economical effects on local communities. “Pangolins prey on termites in our farms,”said Tehuema Rna Jearme, (45), a small-scale farmer from west Cameroon. “Without them, our crops will be damaged by termites.” Pangolins fall under Category A of Classified Wildlife Species in Cameroon, which fully protects them from hunting, exploitation, and possession but these laws are not enforced completely by the authorities.
Project.
The Pangolin Conservation Comics Kids Project aims to take positive action for the conservation of the Pangolin in Cameroon through a short comic book illustration of a heroic story to inspire compassionate lifestyle choices in indigenous kids who will indirectly influence their parents.
The Pangolin conservation comics kids project aims to bring together 25 indigenous kids in the Southwest region whose parents consume ‘Bush meats’ (Bush meats here referred to as the flesh of any animal which lives in the forest) to train them on basic paper sketching skills, and storytelling and empower them with knowledge on pangolin conservation, to illustrate a comic book story jointly.
Project Site;
The rural dwellings closest to the Campo Ma’an forest, where poaching is rampant, located in the south west region intertwine to Buea and Limbe community, poachers kill pangolins in the rural communities and sell them at bus stations and local markets across Buea to Limbe and crossroad parks heading to neighboring Doula Town. The rural community is made of up traders, farmers, and hunters. This area has Little infrastructural development, dwellers own mud-block homes quite a few with cement, it is surrounded by the Forest and water bodies such as springs. We plan to work with kids from this rural community and the urban bus areas.
Activities:
We will organize a comic sketch workshop which will directly benefit 25 indigenous kids. Training them in basic paper sketching skills, and storytelling and empowering them with knowledge on pangolin conservation, to jointly illustrate a comic book story. After Illustration, we will print 300 copies of the book and distributed it to 300 indigenous kids in the southwest region.
After illustrating the short comic book, we plan to print and distribute it at the central bus park which heads to the west and east region where they will encounter poachers selling ‘bush meats’ on the highway. The most effective communication methods used to connect with people traveling are bus public speaking methods, this same method is used by pastors preaching the word of God, and traders hoping to make some cash. Here the travelers, are seated for hours on their journeys and encounter different people on their way. Here have to opportunity to talk to 90 passengers.
Painting Anti-pangolin poaching and purchase illustrations on buses that traveling through the sale points of bush meats. Thus, contributing to their cooperate social responsibilities.
