CONSERVATION NEWS AT SURUDEV: THE WHILTE BELLIED (TREE PANGOLIN) DISCOVERED IN THE NJISING-TABENKEN FOREST

Conservation news!!!The Tree Pangolin captured in the proposed Njising-Tabeken Community forest. Sustainable Run for Development "SURUDEV" Research team headed by her Executive Director Kari Jackson revealed its presence Sunday September 22 2024 after their weekly surveys 10 am in Binka. The pangolin being arboreal and solitary in nature was captured with the assistance of survey assistant Jerome Tarla. Some indirect indices of the said species also known as scaly anteater were observed since nine months ago but capturing in camera was very difficult due to its nocturnal nature. These are fruits of tireless bio- monitoring initiated some 3 years ago says Kari Jackson and field assistant Jerome Tarla. The species measured some 35 inches, with a tail length of 20 inches and a trunk length of 15 inches. The weight was 1.60 kg. The tree pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis) is one of eight extant species of pangolins ("scaly anteaters"), and is native to equatorial Africa. Endangered on the IUCN Red list of Species. Also known as the white-bellied pangolin or three-cusped pangolin, it is the most common of the African forest pangolins. Its discovery opens a new leaf in the conservation actions of SURUDEV which will help promote the conservation of other endangered species and the fauna and flora of the Njising-Tabenken forest. It should be noted that the Njising-Tabenken forest remains the lone remaining continuous natural montane and sub-montane forest in this Region of the Bamenda highlands after the Kilum-Ijim forest. Being an Important Bird Area (IBA) and a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), the forest remains unprotected. Despite efforts put by SURUDEV in partnership with the local Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife to save this important habitat, the forest continuously suffers severe degradation mostly from anthropogenic activities by forest- adjacent peoples. The forest has suffered a heavy degradation to less than half since the last five decades.