OIPA in Cameroon

Who We Are

OIPA’s work in Cameroon is carried out through its local team, represented by Mr Che Gilbert Ayunwi, OIPA Cameroon Representative.

OIPA Cameroon was officially recognised by the Government of Cameroon and by the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization on 13 January 2017. Its objectives include the defence of animal rights, the improvement of animal health and the protection of the environment.

OIPA Cameroon is committed to protecting animals from cruelty, neglect and exploitation, while supporting communities and promoting the conservation of wildlife and biodiversity. Its work is rooted in cooperation with local communities, civil society organisations, veterinary professionals, traditional leaders, institutions and public authorities.

In Cameroon, animal welfare is closely connected to wider social, environmental and public health challenges. Companion animals, stray animals, working animals, farmed animals and wildlife may all face different forms of suffering, including neglect, lack of veterinary care, poor handling, abandonment, exploitation, habitat loss and limited public awareness.

Through its local presence, OIPA supports a community-based and preventive approach, promoting compassion, responsibility and practical action for animals across the country.

“Protecting animals means supporting communities, strengthening responsibility and conserving the natural world we all share.”

Che Gilbert Ayunwi, OIPA Cameroon Country Coordinator

Our Mission in Cameroon

OIPA’s mission in Cameroon is to protect and improve the welfare of animals through rescue, veterinary care, education, advocacy and community engagement.

The work focuses on promoting humane treatment, preventing cruelty and neglect, strengthening access to animal health support, encouraging responsible animal care and raising awareness of the links between animal welfare, public health, biodiversity and sustainable livelihoods.

Through its local representative and team, OIPA aims to build stronger cooperation between communities, veterinarians, civil society, institutions and public authorities, with the goal of creating long-term and sustainable solutions for animals in need.

What We Do

OIPA in Cameroon works across several areas of animal protection, including companion animal welfare, stray animal care, working animal welfare, wildlife conservation, vaccination and outreach campaigns, mobile veterinary support, education and community awareness.

The work includes responding to urgent cases of animal abuse, neglect or injury; supporting veterinary treatment and vaccination campaigns; promoting responsible care for dogs, cats and other domestic animals; protecting endangered wildlife; and engaging communities in animal welfare and conservation education.

A key part of this work is community involvement. By working directly with local people, schools, veterinary professionals, volunteers and community leaders, OIPA Cameroon seeks to create practical and sustainable change rooted in local realities.

“Animal welfare is not only about responding to suffering. It is about preventing it through education, care and collective responsibility.”

Challenges and Our Response

Animal welfare in Cameroon is affected by several interconnected challenges, including limited access to veterinary care in some areas, lack of resources, low public awareness, cruelty and neglect, disease prevention needs, poor welfare conditions for working and farmed animals, and threats to wildlife and natural habitats.

Stray dogs and cats may suffer from abandonment, preventable diseases, injuries and lack of regular care. Working animals such as donkeys and horses may be exposed to overwork, poor handling, inadequate nutrition and untreated health problems. Farmed animals may face welfare concerns linked to housing, handling, disease prevention and lack of awareness of their needs as sentient beings. Wildlife is also affected by habitat loss, pollution, illegal hunting and human pressure on ecosystems.

OIPA’s response in Cameroon combines direct action, veterinary support, awareness, prevention and collaboration. Through education, rescue, vaccination campaigns, community outreach, veterinary networking and conservation initiatives, OIPA Cameroon works to reduce suffering and promote a more humane relationship between people, animals and the environment.

Main Areas of Activity

Education and Community Engagement

Education is central to OIPA’s work in Cameroon.

Through community outreach and awareness activities, OIPA Cameroon promotes knowledge of animal welfare, responsible care, humane treatment and conservation. These initiatives aim to reach children, young people, families, animal owners and community members, helping them understand animals’ needs and the importance of preventing cruelty and neglect.

By strengthening awareness at community level, OIPA seeks to encourage long-term behavioural change and build a culture of compassion and responsibility towards animals.

Rescue and Emergency Response

OIPA Cameroon responds to urgent cases involving animals affected by abuse, neglect, injury or distress.

Rescue and emergency response activities aim to provide immediate support to animals in need, connect cases with veterinary professionals where possible, and mobilise local volunteers and community members to act when animals are at risk.

This area of work is essential in situations where animals require rapid intervention, treatment, shelter, protection or follow-up care.

Stray Animal Care and Population Control

Stray dogs and cats are among the animals most exposed to suffering in many communities.

OIPA Cameroon works to improve the welfare of stray animals through awareness, care, population control efforts, veterinary support and community involvement. The aim is to reduce abandonment, prevent avoidable suffering and encourage humane solutions that protect both animals and communities.

Responsible pet ownership, vaccination, sterilisation where possible and public education are key elements of this approach.

Vaccination and Outreach Campaigns

Vaccination and outreach campaigns are an important part of animal welfare and public health.

OIPA Cameroon supports efforts to prevent disease, improve access to animal health services and raise awareness among animal owners and communities. These activities help protect animals from preventable illnesses while also contributing to safer and healthier communities.

Through coordinated campaigns and local engagement, OIPA Cameroon promotes prevention as a practical and humane tool for animal welfare.

Mobile Veterinary Clinics

OIPA Cameroon promotes mobile veterinary support to bring animal health care closer to communities and animals in need.

Mobile veterinary activities can help reach areas where access to veterinary services is limited, providing treatment, vaccination, basic care, emergency response and guidance to animal owners.

This approach is particularly important in rural and underserved areas, where animals may otherwise remain without medical attention.

Working  Animal Welfare

Working animals, including donkeys, horses and other animals used in rural livelihoods, play an important role in many communities but may also face serious welfare challenges.

OIPA Cameroon promotes better care for working animals through awareness, veterinary support, humane handling, proper nutrition, disease prevention and improved living conditions.

This work aims to reduce suffering while supporting communities that depend on animals for transport, agriculture and livelihoods.

Humane Treatment of Farmed Animals

OIPA Cameroon also promotes the humane treatment of farmed animals, recognising them as sentient beings deserving dignity, protection and compassionate care.

The work focuses on preventing cruelty, neglect and avoidable suffering among animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, poultry, donkeys and horses. Through outreach, education and veterinary support, OIPA Cameroon encourages humane handling, better nutrition, disease prevention and improved housing conditions.

While farmed animals are part of rural livelihoods in Cameroon, OIPA promotes higher welfare standards, ethical treatment and long-term cultural change to reduce suffering.

Wildlife Protection and Conservation

Cameroon is home to rich biodiversity and unique wildlife, but many species are threatened by habitat loss, pollution, illegal hunting and human pressure on natural ecosystems.

OIPA Cameroon works to promote wildlife protection and conservation through awareness, community engagement, advocacy and support for initiatives that safeguard endangered species and their habitats.

A key example is the campaign to protect Cameroon’s Goliath Frog, the world’s largest frog, which is threatened by habitat degradation, pollution and illegal hunting. Through education, volunteer mobilisation and advocacy, OIPA Cameroon seeks to support the protection of rivers, wetlands and forests where this species lives.

Environmental Protection

Animal welfare, wildlife conservation and environmental protection are deeply connected.

OIPA Cameroon promotes the protection of ecosystems that provide food, water, shelter and livelihoods for animals and people. Healthy environments are essential for domestic animals, wildlife and human communities alike.

By encouraging sustainable environmental practices and working with local communities, OIPA Cameroon supports a broader vision of animal protection that includes biodiversity, habitat conservation and responsible coexistence.

Our Impact and Future Goals

Through its work in Cameroon, OIPA is building a growing platform for animal protection, veterinary collaboration, community education and wildlife conservation.

Its activities bring together local communities, veterinarians, volunteers, institutions, civil society and international supporters around a shared goal: reducing animal suffering and promoting a more compassionate society.

Looking ahead, OIPA Cameroon aims to strengthen its veterinary network, expand outreach and vaccination campaigns, support rescue and emergency response, promote humane treatment of companion, working and farmed animals, and continue developing conservation initiatives for Cameroon’s wildlife and ecosystems.

“A more compassionate future for animals begins with education, care and action rooted in local communities.”

Contact

For further information about OIPA’s activities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, please contact:

OIPA International

international@oipa.org

OIPA CAMEROON

cameroon@oipa.org

 Street Animal Sterilization Program in Mefi DIVISION West Region of Cameroon. We want to support this OIPA Cameroon project to reduce the number of stray animals and the high death rate among dogs and cats. These volunteers have been active for many years and are driven by a strong passion for animals. Now, we would like to support them in their new mission.

OIPA Cameroon have saved over 2,500 animals, spayed and neutered more than 2000 animals, and facilitated the adoption of over 440 dogs.

Now their goal are:

• To sterilize/treat 400 stray dogs in the MEFI division in West Region of Cameroon within 10 months.
• To increase awareness among businesses and residential complexes about humane methods of animal population control.
• To reduce rabies cases and dog bite incidents in MEFI division by 50% within 12 months of project completion.

An expert veterinary team, trained at World Veterinary Services, is ready to perform mass sterilizations in collaboration with the ministry of livestock Fisheries and Animal Industries.

The OIPA Cameroon delegation in 2024 marked important milestones in support of local wildlife, donkeys, in particular.

As early as 2023 OIPA Cameroon carried out an awareness campaign on donkey skin trade and donkey welfare with financial support of OIPA International. The main goal of the campaign was to disrupt cross-border movement and the donkeys hide trade in the region. An illegal traffic fueled by the high demand for donkey skin from China.

This effort continued in 2024 also thanks to the support of the SPANA association,Society for the Protection of Animals Abroad. The shared goal was to improve the lives of donkeys and other working animals by establishing a practical facility that will facilitate access to and improved health care services.

Donkeys, horses and other animals are used daily in the work activities of rural families. Despite their contributions they do not receive the love, care and attention they deserve, so OIPA Cameroon has worked and is still working alongside communities in the far north of the country to improve the lives of these animals by educating the community about their welfare and protection.

Stop the comeback of greyhound racing in Vietnam. IIn March 2023, authorities finally shut down the Lam Son greyhound track, ending over two decades of animal cruelty. However, this victory could be short-lived.
Despite this progress, new and alarming plans aim to bring dog racing back to Vietnam as part of a large-scale tourist development project in Lam Dong Province.

The Madagui Project has already received preliminary approval, but we still have a chance to stop greyhound racing from being part of this development. It’s not too late to act!

By signing the petition of our member league GREY2K USA, you can help prevent the reintroduction of this cruel sport. After you sign, please reach out to key Vietnamese government officials and urge them to block this harmful proposal. Contact Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, and Chairperson Tran Hong Thai of the Lam Dong People’s Committee. Together, we can protect innocent greyhounds and ensure their suffering does not return.

Talking Points:

• Dog racing is cruel and outdated, with increasing global momentum toward its abolition. Greyhounds are subjected to extreme confinement in dark, barren cages, deprived of socialization or proper care. They also face constant risk of injury and death on the racetrack. This exploitation violates Vietnam’s Law on Animal Health, which bans the mistreatment of animals.
• In March 2023, local authorities decided not to renew the Lam Son dog racing track’s license, recognizing that the sport conflicted with the region’s positive socio-economic goals. This action follows the 2018 closure of dog racing in Macau, China. Lam Dong Province should continue this trend and embrace more sustainable, compassionate forms of entertainment.
• The Madagui Project includes alternative, family-friendly activities such as an amusement park, golf course, hotel, and resort—all of which promise far greater economic benefits and align better with modern values of tourism and responsible development.

By supporting the halt of greyhound racing in Lam Dong, we can ensure that the region’s development is both humane and profitable.

Let your voice be heard! Sign the petition and take action today.

Let your voice be heard! Sign the petition and take action today.

The battery cage system has faced global criticism for violating poultry welfare standards, particularly regarding animal subjectivity and sentience.

CONFINEMENT

The confinement inherent in this poultry management system severely compromises the well-being of birds, preventing them from expressing natural behaviors and negatively impacting their physical and psychological health. Extensive scientific research has demonstrated that intensively confined farm animals experience frustration, distress, and suffering.

In response to increasing pressure from environmental movements, many European countries began to phase out the use of battery cages for laying hens during the latter half of the 20th century, despite these cages being previously regarded as the most efficient husbandry system.

The Council Directive 1999/74/EC was subsequently enacted, banning the use of conventional cages for laying hens effective January 1, 2012.

Conversely, in Africa, the battery cage system has gained traction as an income-generating initiative and a vital source of employment for youth. However, there is a notable lack of substantial data and research on the status, extent, and legal framework surrounding the adoption of battery cages on the continent. Such information is crucial for developing effective campaign strategies aimed at promoting more sustainable and welfare-friendly systems that prioritize poultry well-being.

Specific Objectives

1. To conduct an in-depth survey of the existence and extent of battery cage use as a means of chicken production.
2. To conduct a review on existing National Policies, Legislative Frameworks and Regulations with a focus on intensive chicken production through the use of the battery cage system.
3. To conduct a general assessment of consumer/public perception and views on chicken production systems and whether they affect their purchasing capability of end products.
4. Develop a Policy Brief with key recommendations and practical alternatives in mainstreaming the use of battery cages as a means of intensive poultry production with an emphasis on adopting extensive approaches that are humane and welfare considerate.

OIPA Cameroon and the African Network for Animal Welfare have joined forces to improve chicken welfare in Cameroon. A 5-day visit focused on assessing the current state of poultry farming and developing a strategy for a cage-free future. OIPA is conducting a thorough survey to inform a detailed report and a comprehensive cage-free campaign protocol.

JOJO A SICK HORSE EXPLOITED AND THEN ABANDONED

In rural communities in Cameroon, horses and donkeys play a critical and central in improving the livelihood of many poor families. People still depend on these animals for transportation of food, water and other supplies.
Despite their contribution to daily livelihood, these animals do not often receive the attention, respect and love they deserve. They work under harsh and terrible condition, for days without food and water and without proper treatment and healthcare.

Through a participatory approach, OIPA Cameroon does engage with donkey and horse owners in order to inform and educate on health, welfare of these animals and their relationship with them. It saddens us to know that these animals are often beaten, underfed, overloaded and mistreated because of ignorance. Additionally, there is also lack of skills and equipment to deliver proper healthcare to these animals in rural villages.

OIPA Cameroon educates owners on animal welfare, also proving free health care to sick and injured animals.

STORY OF JOJO

This horse, named Jojo, was exploited for years and then abandoned by the owner because he started getting sick and could no longer provide the ‘services’ he was used to. The equid has been found malnourished wandering outside the community of Keale looking for some grass to quench his hunger.

Jojo was immediately fed and dewormed, however he still needs help! He is another stray horse that has been left to die in pain after years of exploitation.

We can give JOJO another life. Your donations will be used to guarantee the horse appropriate medical care and  vaccination. Once he is treated, we want to give Jojo the opportunity to live his remaining life in peace and free from pain and suffering!