Testing Drones in Bénoué National Park in Northern Cameroon

The University of Bristol have teamed up with the Bristol Zoological Society (BZS) in order to support their work in Cameroon. The North Region of Cameroon is one of the last strongholds for the charismatic species of the Sudanian savanna woodland, including the Kordofan giraffe. In the heart of this area, the Western Bénoué Ecosystem (WBE) is composed of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve (Bénoué National Park) and four neighbouring hunting zones. Despite its rich biodiversity, the WBE is faced with several threats, the most critical of which is uncontrolled pastoralism by non-local herders. Overgrazing by cattle can negatively impact large herbivore populations by reducing food abundance. This video is from a joint field trip in December 2019 where drones have been tested for their potential in helping to monitor the number of Kordofan giraffe within the park.