Cameroon’s Endemic Bannerman’s Turaco population in steady Decline
Cameroon prides itself as one of the countries in Africa with the highest number of bird species. With close to about 1000 bird species, Cameroon’s bird’s population has been facing an array of threats ranging from habitat loss to hunting and many more. One of the species that makes Cameroon unique when it comes to birds in Africa is the Bannerman’s turaco.
The Bannerman’s turaco (Tauraco bannermani) is a species of bird in the Musophagidae family. This species is endemic to the Bamenda Highlands, North West Cameroon. The Bannerman’s turaco was the last turaco species to be discovered in 1923. Small populations of the Bannerman’s turaco have been recorded in Mt Mbam, Mt Bamboutos and at Fossimondi and Fomenji in the South-West region of Cameroon. They are known to inhabit subtropical or tropical moist mountain forests, between altitudes of 1,700m to 2,950m. They are strictly arboreal (spending the majority of their lives in trees), feeding on the fruits and sometimes on leaves, buds and flowers.
The population this emblematic species is estimated to be just 1,500-7,000 mature individuals, mainly restricted to the Bamenda Highland forest, with another small share in the west and south west regions of Cameroon. This turaco has a distinctive red crest, yellow bill and green, red, blue and yellow plumage. However, as it is almost exclusively arboreal (tree living); staying up in the canopy, the species is usually identified by its call which can be heard from as far as a kilometre away. Bannerman’s Turaco shares its genus with 13 other species that are collectively known as the ‘typical’ or green turacos. These birds are unique in the avian world for actually producing green pigment.
The green colouration of other bird species occurs due to the microscopic structure of the feathers. It spends its time foraging for fruit and berries in the canopies of the tropical montane forest of Cameroon. The Kilum-Ijim Forest in the Bamenda Highlands is one of the last remaining strongholds for the Bannerman’s Turaco. Even though this emblematic species is peculiar to the Bamenda Highlands, the CEO/President of ERuDeF, Louis Nkembi says the Lebiabiam Highlands has a great number of Bannerman’s turaco population. Hear him “The Barnnaman’s turaco previously thought to be limited to the Bamenda Highlands was recorded in the Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary and across the caldera of the Mount Bamboutos, part of the Lebialem Highlands. The Bannerman’s turaco is greatly threatened and if quick conservation efforts are not put in place, this species will be extinct in the no distant future”
The greatest threat to the species in its range habitat is habitat loss. Habitat loss in this area is mostly caused by agriculture, forest fires, logging and firewood collection and grazing of domestic animals. The Bannerman’s turaco is hunted for its feathers because of its cultural significance to the indigenous population. The Kilum-Ijim forest remains firm but forest losses still occur due to wildfires, collection of firewood, timber cutting for wood carvings, livestock grazing, and bee keeping. Population growth in villages surrounding the forest has doubled (at least) since the Kilum-Ijim Forest was established, leading to increased pressure on the forest for livelihoods and subsistence uses. Advocating for change in these areas by raising awareness of locals and hunters on the dangers of hunting the Tauraco bannermani for its red feather. Educating them on the conservation needs will help curb the threats to the species and increase in chances of survival.
