From Teenage Porter to Forest Guardian: How One Woman is Saving Cameroon’s Wildlife
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📰 The quick summary: Marlyse Bebeguewa rose from a teenage porter to conservation leader in Cameroon’s Lobéké National Park, breaking gender barriers while protecting endangered wildlife with cutting-edge monitoring tools.
📈 One key stat: Only 117 visitors reached the remote Lobéké National Park last year, highlighting the untapped ecotourism potential of one of Cameroon’s most biodiverse forest landscapes.
💬 One key quote: “I feel fine, as usual. I’m not tired. I’m actually happy to be working with some people — it energizes me,” Bebeguewa told Mongabay Africa.
1️⃣ The big picture: Marlyse Bebeguewa has transformed from a teenage porter to a respected conservation leader protecting wildlife in Cameroon’s remote Lobéké National Park. Born to a Bantu family in 1987 and forced to leave school after her father’s death, she started as a porter in 2009 before becoming the only woman selected during a 2014 recruitment drive for ecological monitoring. Now aged 38, Bebeguewa uses acoustic sensors and camera traps to track endangered species like forest elephants and western lowland gorillas while mentoring young women in conservation. Her story represents the crucial role that Indigenous and local communities play in managing one of Cameroon’s most biodiverse forest landscapes.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Bebeguewa’s success demonstrates how conservation work can provide sustainable livelihoods in rural communities, enabling her to build a home and educate her children. Modern technology like acoustic sensors now supplements traditional monitoring methods, improving detection of both wildlife and poaching activities. The integration of both Baka and Bantu communities in park management promotes inclusive conservation practices that respect Indigenous knowledge. Though previously decimated by poaching, elephant populations in the park are beginning to rebound thanks to these protection efforts. This success story shows how local leadership in conservation can bridge scientific research with community knowledge to protect critical ecosystems.
3️⃣ What’s next: Park officials hope to develop Lobéké’s ecotourism potential by improving the area’s infrastructure, particularly the poor road conditions that deter visitors. Bebeguewa advocates for better communication tools for field teams to enhance safety and coordination during patrols. Conservation leaders also aim to strengthen relationships between Baka and Bantu communities to ensure more equitable, inclusive governance around the national park.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – From porter to conservation leader, the inspiring journey of Marlyse Bebeguewa in Cameroon
