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In Gabon, incidents between villagers and elephants are increasing in some regions. The President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council has embarked on a national tour to try to find solutions to the problems of cohabitation. In rural areas, people complain about damage caused by these animals in their plantations and accuse the authorities of not listening to them.
with our correspondent in Libreville, Yves-Laurent Goma
In three weeks, the President of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council has visited eight of the 9 provinces in the country. And wherever he has been, René Ndemezo Obiang has heard the same complaints, the same complaints … “The population is in despair.”, He explains.
According to the Ministry of Water and Forestry, the country is home to about 48,000 forest elephants.
The National Parks Agency says the pachyderm population has not exploded, but the problem is deforestation and industrial operations that are destroying the elephant’s habitat as well as trees whose fruit is used as food for them and pushing them down. elephants to the villages.
In his mission report, René Ndemezo Obiang lists some solutions to be submitted to the government, such as “construction of electrical barriers”. “The people feel surrendered to their sad fate, and a strong gesture from the highest authorities would be welcome! », Concludes René Ndemezo Obiang. While waiting for solutions to be found, the villagers complain of famine and the more functional ones choose rural emigration.
also read : In Gabon, farmers overwhelmed by the ravages of elephants in plantations
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