WildAid Africa 105d ago

Meet Appolinaire Ndohoudou, site manager at Ape Action Africa in Cameroon’s Mefou Park — and a dedicated champion for chimpanzees and gorillas. Ndohoudou began his journey in 2002 as a night watchman. Soon after, he joined the team at Mefou Park, home to the Ape Action Africa Primate Sanctuary, where he was trained to care for rescued chimpanzees and gorillas. Over the years, his role has grown — but his commitment has remained the same. Today, he helps protect apes threatened by poaching and the bushmeat trade. In Cameroon’s eastern forests, where poachers are active, chimpanzee and gorilla populations have declined dramatically. That’s why the work of sanctuaries and eco-guards is so important — offering protection, care, and a second chance for animals that have survived these threats. For Appolinaire, this work is deeply personal. He cares for the apes as if they were his own family. Where Cameroon’s forests were once full of chimpanzees and gorillas, far fewer remain. Protecting them has never been more urgent.