Meet the Great Ape Guardians
We chatted to three of our inspiring guardians. Sidonie Linga, Agnes Atol and Idriss Binkoame are from Malen V and Doumo Pierre, two villages on the northern fringes of the Dja Faunal Reserve. Their stories reveal how proud they feel to protect wildlife and how becoming gorilla guardians has transformed their lives.
Like most people in their communities, Sidonie, Agnes and Idriss are farmers first, working the land to grow food to sustain their families and earn a living. But they have now embraced something more: a responsibility to safeguard the wildlife around them. Working closely with Donald and village chiefs, Sidonie, Agnes and Idriss, along with their fellow Great Ape Guardians, are stopping poachers and ensuring the tropical rainforests around their home can be a safe place for gorillas and other wildlife.
Their commitment demonstrates how conservation works best when it comes from within communities. Here, local knowledge can combine with genuine care for the natural world that sustains them.
L-R: Agnes Atol, Idriss Binkoame, Sidone Linga
What’s the best part of your role as a Great Ape Guardian?
Sidonie sees the changes already happening in her community: “People have begun to understand the importance of conservation,” she explains. “When we visit villages and share our message about protecting wildlife, people listen. They kill fewer animals now than before. This gives me confidence that our children and grandchildren will be able to see endangered species such as gorillas.”
“I’m very proud that we have succeeded in chasing some very renowned hunters from the villages,” says Idriss. “There used to be one individual in Malen V village, supplying hunting material to youths and transporting bushmeat out of the village. We approached him directly and asked him to stop poaching and focus on alternative activities. He has left Malen V now and doesn’t hunt here anymore.”
Agnes describes some of the broader challenges they’ve faced: “Middlemen used to bring cartridges, drugs and tobacco to our villages to sell to youths, leading to increased crime rates. They were hunting with cartridges which made the situation even more dangerous.”
Hunting with guns and cartridges allows poachers to target large animals like gorillas and kill multiple animals quickly, making it far more destructive than traditional hunting methods. Agnes continues: “The good thing now is that we, the Great Ape Guardians, have succeeded in stopping them from coming. Our youths are more responsible now and hunting less. We helped break a destructive cycle.”
How has being a Great Ape Guardian helped you?
Agnes beams with pride as she talks about the tangible changes in her life since becoming a Great Ape Guardian. “I was able to construct my house with the money I earned, something that didn’t seem possible before.” The financial stability has extended beyond housing. “I can also cover my children’s education with this revenue. That means a lot to me.”
Idriss shares a similar sense of accomplishment. “I bought my motorbike with the money I earned as a Great Ape Guardian. This helps me get around more efficiently for both my guardian duties but also for other work. The benefits reach across generations in his family. “I also cover the education costs of my children and I’m able to contribute to health treatment for my mother when she needs it. Being able to care for both the next generation and the one that raised me is a privilege.”
What are your hopes for the future of wildlife conservation in your community?
Agnes looks towards the future with determination: “I will continue to work as a Great Ape Guardian as long as I am able. We must stop people from hunting unsustainably. I will continue to sensitise my community, helping them understand that they don’t need to rely on hunting for their income. Change takes time, but I believe we can get there through patient conversation and showing alternative paths.”
Idriss shares a similarly committed but realistic vision for the future. “I acknowledge that people will not stop hunting immediately, that’s not realistic. But I have faith that gradually, step by step, they will abandon unsustainable hunting practices as they learn and focus on other income-generating activities.”
Final words from our Great Ape Guardians
Sidonie delivers her message with a quiet authority: “People should protect the forest and wildlife. It’s not just about today, it’s about our future.”
“I will continue to tell my brothers and sisters to conserve the forest and everything that lives within it,” Idriss declares with resolve. “Every conversation matters; every person we reach makes a difference. The forest doesn’t just belong to us – we belong to it, and we must protect this relationship for all the generations to come.”
Agnes’ final thoughts are rooted in gentle realism. “I know that they will not stop hunting immediately but they will do with time. People’s hearts can shift when they see the value in what we’re trying to preserve. I have faith in that process, and I’ll keep working toward it, one conversation at a time.”
Dja is not only home to gorillas; chimpanzees, forest elephants, pangolins and many other species call this forest their home. Your support helps our Great Ape Guardians protect endangered wildlife and promote conservation in their communities.
