DEAD GOATS IN NKAMBE ; APRIL 22 |
There are fears of an outbreak of an ‘epidemic’ in Donga Mantung Division, North
West Region of Cameroon, following the suspicious death of animals, goats in particular
and the withering of tress mostly cypresses.
Since early March 2016, the price of goats in the
villages of Mbot and Kup in Nkambe Subdivision has witnessed a drastic decline
further plunging the locals into poverty and fear.
WITHERED CYPRESS |
“I can remember that for
a goat that could be sold for 15, 000 FCFA, my grandfather sold three for just
20,000 F CFA. People are just afraid of
how they would survive if goats continue to die.
Their poverty level would
increase because they depend on local breeding of animals to send their
children to school," a Kumbo resident , Njobee Marcel, said April 25 2016.
Other locals at the Ndu, Nkambe, Lassin and Misaje markets, are
quoted as saying they have lost, some 63 goats in a week while some breeders
have lost more. Some farmers complain that the vaccination of the animals
is still to serve the purpose intended.
DIEING CYPRESS: NKAMBE APRIL 24 |
Witnesses to the
strange phenomenon suggest that the death of the animals started in Bui area, Noni Noni Sub Division before gradually moving to
other areas.
“We cannot estimate the number of goats which have so far died. For more than a month now it is fast becoming rampant. The goats you see were being taken to the market Friday (April 22) when they died along the way,” another resident said.
“We cannot estimate the number of goats which have so far died. For more than a month now it is fast becoming rampant. The goats you see were being taken to the market Friday (April 22) when they died along the way,” another resident said.
WITHERING CYPRESS
APRIL 24 2016 |
Reports from other areas in the North West region say the
withering of cypress trees started almost the same time sheep and especially goats began dieing. Ndop,Kumbo and Nkambe are areas that are said to be most hit.
The green
vegetation is fast vanishing. The manager of a local hotel in Nkambe, Vincent
Bawe is quoted as saying that when he notices some black spots on the cypress trees
around his hotel he resorted to watering them but in vain. The cypress tress simply brown
and dried off. (See Pictures taken on April 24 2016).
It remains unclear how the long resistant cypress trees are
withering with concordant reports indicating that the administrative officials
are yet to take the matter seriously.
AFFECTED AREAS |
We have so far been unable to get the reaction of officials of
the Ministry of Livestock Fisheries and Animal Industry and the one for Forestry
and Wildlife and Scientific Research and Innovation. Emails to some officials
in the first two Ministries have remained unanswered.
Locals are raising questions as to what might happen if the
strange ‘virus’ or ‘fungi’ hitting the fauna and flora in areas of the North west Region
of Cameroon spread or begins affecting residents.
* Additional reports, photos from Fai Casian, Publisher,
The Eye Newspaper.
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