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* It has been estimated that 4,470 great apes occur in the site.
* It has been estimated that 4,470 great apes occur in the site.
* The great ape population trend is stable.
* The great ape population trend is stable.
* The site has a total size of 2,389 km².
* The site has a total size of 2,382.5 km².
* Poaching is a key threat to great apes in Boumba-Bek National Park.
* Poaching, logging, mining, and agricultural expansion are the key threats to great apes in Boumba-Bek National Park.
* Conservation activities have focused on anti-poaching patrols and community forests.
* Conservation activities have focused on anti-poaching patrols, ecological monitoring, awareness rasing and education.
* The site is part of the TRIDOM conservation landscape.




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= Site characteristics =
= Site characteristics =


Boumba-Bek National Park is located in the southeastern corner of Cameroon, bordering [[Nki National Park]]. The site is situated between the rivers Boumba and Bek (BirdLife International 2020). With 254 species recorded, the park was designated an Important Bird Area in 2001 (BirdLife International 2020). The site is known to be very important for forest elephants, central chimpanzees, and western lowland gorillas. The forest has never been logged and is used by small numbers of Baka people (BirdLife International 2020). However, elephant poaching at the site is a major problem and has led to drastic declines in the elephant numbers (N'Goran 2017).
Stiles, D. (2011). Elephant Meat Trade in Central Africa: Summary report. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 103pp. <br>
WWF & MINFOF (2025). Rapport d’Inventaire Faune TRIDOM Cameroun – Juin 2025. <br>
 


'''Table 1. Basic site information for Boumba-Bek National Park'''
'''Table 1. Basic site information for Boumba-Bek National Park'''
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|-
|-
|Area
|Area
|2,389 km²
|2,382.5 km²
|-
|-
|Coordinates
|Coordinates
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|-
|-
|Type of governance
|Type of governance
|
|Governance by government
|}
|}


[[Types of sites]] [[Governance types]] [[Habitat types]]  
[[Types of sites]] [[Governance types]] [[Habitat types]]  
= Ape status =
= Ape status =


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|
|
|
|
|3283
|3283.0
|Boumba-Bek National Park
|Boumba-Bek National Park
|Line transects & recces
|Line transects & recces
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|
|
|
|
|4470
|4470.0
|Boumba-Bek National Park
|Boumba-Bek National Park
|Line transects & recces
|Line transects & recces
|
|
|N'Goran 2017
|N'Goran 2017
|
|
|-
|'Gorilla gorilla gorilla''
|2023-2024
|Present
|2.38
|2.045
|
|2361.76 km²
|Line transects, Camera trap
|Distance sampling
|WWF & MINFOF 2025
|
|
|-
|'Pan troglodytes troglodytes''
|2023-2024
|Present
|0.951
|0.202
|
|2361.76 km²
|Line transects, Camera trap
|Distance sampling
|WWF & MINFOF 2025
|
|
|
|
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[[Sampling methods]] [[Analytical frameworks]]  
[[Sampling methods]] [[Analytical frameworks]]  
= Threats =
= Threats =


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|5 Biological resource use
|5 Biological resource use
|5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals
|5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals
|Present (unknown severity)
|High (more than 70% of population affected)
|Hunting paths and snares were encountered in a 2012 survey of the park (CITES 2012). Elephants at Boumba-Bek have been more impacted by poaching.
|Hunting paths and snares were encountered in a 2012 survey of the park (CITES 2012). Elephants at Boumba-Bek have been more impacted by poaching.
|Ongoing (2012)
|2012-Ongoing (2025)
|-
|5 Biological resource use
|5.1.1 Subsistence bushmeat hunting
|High (more than 70% of population affected)
|Numerous hunting signs (cartridges, camps, snares); bushmeat trade in nearby villages Moloundou, and Yokadouma (WWF & MINFOF, 2025).
|Ongoing (2025)
|-
|-
|5 Biological resource use
|5 Biological resource use
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|Extraction of bark, honey, or palm wine (CITES 2012).
|Extraction of bark, honey, or palm wine (CITES 2012).
|Ongoing (2012)
|Ongoing (2012)
|-
|5 Biological resource use
|5.3 Logging & wood harvesting
|High (more than 70% of population affected)
|Logging roads opened in buffer zones increase human access, wildlife pressure and forest degradation (WWF & MINFOF 2025).
|Ongoing (2025)
|-
|3 Energy production & mining
|3.2 Mining & quarrying
|Present (unknown severity)
|Small-scale artisanal gold mining on Boumba River and periphery reported (WWF & MINFOF 2025).
|Ongoing (2025)
|-
|2 Agriculture & aquaculture
|2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops
|Present (unknown severity)
|Expansion of agriculture, notably cacao cultivation, increases risks of future degradation (WWF & MINFOF 2025).
|2020-Ongoing (2025)
|-
|7 Natural system modifications
|7.2 Dams & water management/use
|Present (unknown severity)
|An anticipated threat from the construction project of the Chollet hydroelectric dam on the Dja River could lead to the irreversible destruction of vast forest areas (WWF & MINFOF 2025).
|Ongoing (2025)
|}
|}


[[Threats]]  
[[Threats]]  
= Conservation activities =
= Conservation activities =


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|The National Park was established in 2005.
|The National Park was established in 2005.
|
|
|2005-Ongoing (2021)
|2005-Ongoing (2025)
|-
|-
|2 Counter-wildlife crime
|2 Counter-wildlife crime
|2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols
|2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols
|Anti-poaching patrols are conducted (CITES 2012).
|Anti-poaching patrols are conducted (CITES 2012). Regular patrols coordinated by park eco-guards and WWF were reported (WWF & MINFOF 2025).
|
|WWF Cameroon, Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF), local communities
|Ongoing (2012)
|2012-Ongoing (2025)
|-
|2 Counter-wildlife crime
|2.11 Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g., SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of patrols
|Systematic ecological monitoring programs; wildlife inventories (Distance Sampling and camera traps) in the TRIDOM area; data exchange and joint surveillance with Nki National Park and Dja Faunal Reserve (WWF & MINFOF 2025).
|WWF Cameroon, Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF), local communities
|Ongoing (2025)
|-
|4 Education & awareness
|4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use
|Awareness campaigns in periphery villages on sustainable resource use (WWF & MINFOF 2025).
|WWF Cameroon, Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF), local communities
|Ongoing (2025)
|}
|}


[[Conservation activities]]  
[[Conservation activities]]  
= Challenges =
= Challenges =


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[[Challenges]]  
[[Challenges]]  
= Enablers =
= Enablers =


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|-
|-
|2 Resources and capacity
|2 Resources and capacity
|2.6 External partnerships that add expertise or resources
|
|
|
|WWF & MINFOF 2025
|
|-
|-
|3 Engaged community
|3 Engaged community
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|-
|-
|4 Institutional support
|4 Institutional support
|4.2 Strong government support
|
|
|WWF & MINFOF 2025
|-
|5 Institutional support
|4.3 Strong transboundary cooperation
|
|
|
|WWF & MINFOF 2026
|-
|-
|5 Ecological context
|5 Ecological context
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[[Enablers]]  
[[Enablers]]  
= Research activities =
= Research activities =


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[https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20203324125 Ecological monitoring of the dynamics of large and medium mammals in the clearings of Boumba Bek National Park: case of the pondo clearing complex]
[https://www.cabdirect.org/cabdirect/abstract/20203324125 Ecological monitoring of the dynamics of large and medium mammals in the clearings of Boumba Bek National Park: case of the pondo clearing complex]


= Documented behaviours =
= Documented behaviours =
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[[Behaviours]]  
[[Behaviours]]  
= Exposure to climate change impacts =
= Exposure to climate change impacts =


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|}
|}


<div><ul><li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File:PrecipAnomaly_Boumba_Bek_NP.png| 450px | thumb| none | Precipitation anomaly inBoumba-Bek National Park]] </li><li style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: top;"> [[File:TempAnomaly_Boumba_Bek_NP.png | 450px | thumb| none | Temperature anomaly inBoumba-Bek National Park]] </li></ul></div>


= External links =
= External links =
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'''Page created by: '''APES Atlas Team''' Date:''' 2021-01-08
'''Page created by: '''APES Atlas Team''' Date:''' 2021-01-08
'''Page updated by: '''Aime Mizero''' Date:''' 2025-11-03

Revision as of 02:43, 6 November 2025

Central Africa > Cameroon > Boumba-Bek National Park

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Summary

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  • Central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) and western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are present in Boumba-Bek National Park.
  • It has been estimated that 4,470 great apes occur in the site.
  • The great ape population trend is stable.
  • The site has a total size of 2,382.5 km².
  • Poaching, logging, mining, and agricultural expansion are the key threats to great apes in Boumba-Bek National Park.
  • Conservation activities have focused on anti-poaching patrols, ecological monitoring, awareness rasing and education.
  • The site is part of the TRIDOM conservation landscape.



Site characteristics

Stiles, D. (2011). Elephant Meat Trade in Central Africa: Summary report. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 103pp.
WWF & MINFOF (2025). Rapport d’Inventaire Faune TRIDOM Cameroun – Juin 2025.


Table 1. Basic site information for Boumba-Bek National Park

Species Pan troglodytes troglodytes, Gorilla gorilla gorilla
Area 2,382.5 km²
Coordinates Lat: 2.986850 , Lon: 14.856464
Type of site Protected area (National Park)
Habitat types Wetlands (lakes, rivers, streams, bogs, marshes), Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest
Type of governance Governance by government

Types of sites Governance types Habitat types

Ape status

Although a relative and non-significant increase of the great ape population size was found between 2011 and 2015, the trend may be due to possible protocol errors or effects of conversion parameters (N'Goran et al. 2017).

Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Boumba-Bek National Park

Species Year Occurrence Encounter or vistation rate (nests/km; ind/day) Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) Abundance estimate (95% CI) Survey area Sampling method Analytical framework Source Comments A.P.E.S. database ID
Pan troglodytes troglodytes & Gorilla gorilla gorilla 2012 1.60 (1.22-2.10) 3,326 (2,530-4,373) Boumba-Bek National Park Line transects CITES 2012 Survey effort: 105.4 km
Gorilla gorilla gorilla 2012 1.18 (0.85-1.64) 2459 (1,771-3,416) Boumba-Bek National Park Line transects CITES 2012 Survey effort: 105.4 km
Pan troglodytes troglodytes 2012 0.44 (0.32- 0.62) 925 (662-1,291) Boumba-Bek National Park Line transects CITES 2012 Survey effort: 105.4 km
Pan troglodytes troglodytes & Gorilla gorilla gorilla 2011 3283.0 Boumba-Bek National Park Line transects & recces N'Goran 2017
Pan troglodytes troglodytes & Gorilla gorilla gorilla 2015 4470.0 Boumba-Bek National Park Line transects & recces N'Goran 2017
'Gorilla gorilla gorilla 2023-2024 Present 2.38 2.045 2361.76 km² Line transects, Camera trap Distance sampling WWF & MINFOF 2025
'Pan troglodytes troglodytes 2023-2024 Present 0.951 0.202 2361.76 km² Line transects, Camera trap Distance sampling WWF & MINFOF 2025

Sampling methods Analytical frameworks

Threats

Poaching is the main threat to wildlife at the site. Human sign encounter rates were found to be particularly high in the northern part of the park, which is closer to a public road (CITES 2012).

Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Boumba-Bek National Park

Category Specific threats Threat level Description Year of threat
5 Biological resource use 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals High (more than 70% of population affected) Hunting paths and snares were encountered in a 2012 survey of the park (CITES 2012). Elephants at Boumba-Bek have been more impacted by poaching. 2012-Ongoing (2025)
5 Biological resource use 5.1.1 Subsistence bushmeat hunting High (more than 70% of population affected) Numerous hunting signs (cartridges, camps, snares); bushmeat trade in nearby villages Moloundou, and Yokadouma (WWF & MINFOF, 2025). Ongoing (2025)
5 Biological resource use 5.2 Gathering terrestrial plants Present (unknown severity) Extraction of bark, honey, or palm wine (CITES 2012). Ongoing (2012)
5 Biological resource use 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting High (more than 70% of population affected) Logging roads opened in buffer zones increase human access, wildlife pressure and forest degradation (WWF & MINFOF 2025). Ongoing (2025)
3 Energy production & mining 3.2 Mining & quarrying Present (unknown severity) Small-scale artisanal gold mining on Boumba River and periphery reported (WWF & MINFOF 2025). Ongoing (2025)
2 Agriculture & aquaculture 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops Present (unknown severity) Expansion of agriculture, notably cacao cultivation, increases risks of future degradation (WWF & MINFOF 2025). 2020-Ongoing (2025)
7 Natural system modifications 7.2 Dams & water management/use Present (unknown severity) An anticipated threat from the construction project of the Chollet hydroelectric dam on the Dja River could lead to the irreversible destruction of vast forest areas (WWF & MINFOF 2025). Ongoing (2025)

Threats

Conservation activities

WWF and partners have supported the establishment of 42 community forests around Boumba Bek, Nki and Lobeke National Parks (WWF).

Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Boumba-Bek National Park

Category Specific activity Description Implementing organization(s) Year of activity
5 Protection & restoration 5.2 Legally protect ape habitat The National Park was established in 2005. 2005-Ongoing (2025)
2 Counter-wildlife crime 2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols Anti-poaching patrols are conducted (CITES 2012). Regular patrols coordinated by park eco-guards and WWF were reported (WWF & MINFOF 2025). WWF Cameroon, Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF), local communities 2012-Ongoing (2025)
2 Counter-wildlife crime 2.11 Implement monitoring surveillance strategies (e.g., SMART) or use monitoring data to improve effectiveness of patrols Systematic ecological monitoring programs; wildlife inventories (Distance Sampling and camera traps) in the TRIDOM area; data exchange and joint surveillance with Nki National Park and Dja Faunal Reserve (WWF & MINFOF 2025). WWF Cameroon, Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF), local communities Ongoing (2025)
4 Education & awareness 4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use Awareness campaigns in periphery villages on sustainable resource use (WWF & MINFOF 2025). WWF Cameroon, Ministry of Forests and Wildlife (MINFOF), local communities Ongoing (2025)

Conservation activities

Challenges

Table 5. Challenges reported for Boumba-Bek National Park

Challenges Specific challenges Source Year(s)
Not reported

Challenges

Enablers

Table 6. Enablers reported for Boumba-Bek National Park

Enablers Specific enablers Source Year(s)
1 Site management
2 Resources and capacity 2.6 External partnerships that add expertise or resources WWF & MINFOF 2025
3 Engaged community
4 Institutional support 4.2 Strong government support WWF & MINFOF 2025
5 Institutional support 4.3 Strong transboundary cooperation WWF & MINFOF 2026
5 Ecological context
6 Safety and stability

Enablers

Research activities

There are 16 forest clearings (bais) in Boumba-Bek, with four currently monitored by MINFOF/WWF for large mammal activities (Stiles 2011).

Maisels, F., Bechem, M., Blanc, J., Strindberg, S., Boafo, Y., Mahop, J.P., Mengamenya, A., Bariga, N., Luhunu, S., 2012a. Wildlife and Human Impact Survey in Boumba Bek National Park, Cameroon, p. 62. CITES MIKE.

Ecological monitoring of the dynamics of large and medium mammals in the clearings of Boumba Bek National Park: case of the pondo clearing complex


Documented behaviours

Table 7. Behaviours documented for Boumba-Bek National Park

Category Behavior Observation type Prevalence Observation dates Source Habituation Species Comment
Not reported

Behaviours

Exposure to climate change impacts

As part of a study on the exposure of African great ape sites to climate change impacts, Kiribou et al. subm. extracted climate data and data on projected extreme climate impact events for the site. Climatological characteristics were derived from observation-based climate data provided by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP, www.isimip.org). Parameters were calculated as the average across each 30-year period. For 1981-2010, the EWEMBI dataset from ISIMIP2a was used. For the two future periods (2021-2050 and 2071-2099) ISIMIP2b climate data based on four CMIP5 global climate models were used. For future projections, two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) were used. RCP 2.6 is a scenario with strong mitigation measures in which global temperatures would likely rise below 2C. RCP 6.0 is a scenario with medium emissions in which global temperatures would likely rise up to 3C by 2100. For the number of days with heavy precipitation events, the 98th percentile of all precipitation days (>1mm/d) was calculated for the 1979-2013 reference period as a threshold for a heavy precipitation event. Then, for each year, the number of days above that threshold was derived. The figures on temperature and precipitation anomaly show the deviation from the mean temperature and mean precipitation for the 1979-2013 reference period.

The estimated exposure to future extreme climate impact events (crop failure, drought, river flood, wildfire, tropical cyclone, and heatwave) is based on a published dataset by Lange et al. 2020 derived from ISIMIP2b data. The same global climate models and RCPs as described above were used. Within each 30-year period, the number of years with an extreme event and the average proportion of the site affected were calculated (see Kiribou et al. subm. for details).

Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Boumba-Bek National Park

Value 1981-2010 2021-2050, RCP 2.6 2021-2050, RCP 6.0 2071-2099, RCP 2.6 2071-2099, RCP 6.0
Mean temperature [C] 23.8 25.3 25 25.4 26.5
Annual precipitation [mm] 1564 1600 1632 1644 1628
Max no. consecutive dry days (per year) 24.1 22 24 18.7 22.6
No. days with heavy precipitation (per year) 6.6 9.4 9.3 9.2 10.8


Table 9. Projected exposure of apes to extreme climate impact events in Boumba-Bek National Park

Type No. of years with event (2021-2050, RCP 2.6) % of site exposed (2021-2050, RCP 2.6) No. of years with event (2021-2050, RCP 6.0) % of site exposed (2021-2050, RCP 6.0) No. of years with event (2070-2099, RCP 2.6) % of site exposed (2070-2099, RCP 2.6) No. of years with event (2070-2099, RCP 6.0) % of site exposed (2070-2099, RCP 6.0)
Crop failure 14 0 5.5 0 16.5 0 20 0
Drought 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.25 25
Heatwave 1.5 100 0 0 2.5 100 6 100
River flood 0 0 0.25 0 0 0 0 0
Tropical cyclone 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wildfire 30 0.6 30 0.64 29 0.44 29 0.65


  • Precipitation anomaly inBoumba-Bek National Park
  • Temperature anomaly inBoumba-Bek National Park

External links

WWF Cameroon

References

CITES. (2012). Monitoring of Illegal Trade in Ivory and Other Elephant Specimens. Wildlife and Human Impact Survey 201, Boumba Bek National Park, Republic of Cameroon. Geneva, Switzerland: CITES.

BirdLife International (2020) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Boumba - Bek. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 31/12/2020.

Stiles, D. (2011). Elephant Meat Trade in Central Africa: Summary report. Gland, Switzerland: IUCN. 103pp.


Page created by: APES Atlas Team Date: 2021-01-08

Page updated by: Aime Mizero Date: 2025-11-03

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