higher chance of coming in contact with Derby Elands in Benoué walking a short distance. When the 

 chances of finding a Derby Eland in the Park become continuously slimmer, it distresses Derby Eland 

 lovers, making it imperative for the management to find innovative ways to conserve and expand the 

 species. There is urgent need for sustainable management practices to ensure availability of the big 

 games for future generations. 



The value of big games in monetary terms is a measure of the importance that ought to be attached to 

 their conservation. This is consistent with the concept that the higher the value of a resource, the more 

 attention will be given to its conservation. Considering that the ultimate goal of conservation is to 

 improve environmental health as well as the welfare of human and wildlife communities, hence 

 determining the socioeconomic benefits accruing from big games is important. Sustainable big game 

 tourism industry can be big national income earner where appropriate institutions and policies exist 

 (Ajaga Nji 1 989). Coupled with efficient management, the wildlife sector can boost tourism to a second 

 position after petroleum as a source of foreign earning in most countries. It must be recalled that the 

 estimated annual worth of the monetary value of big game in Benoué National Park stands at US $ 

 933,572.01 with the Derby Eland contributing 14.09% in 2006. This suggests that the sector has the 

 potential to contribute significantly to national revenue if appropriate conservation and promotion 

 measures are put in place. The results obtained by this study point to tourism in Benoue National Park as 

 one of the avenues that Cameroon could take to extricate itself from the club of Heavily Indebted Poor 

 Countries. 



CONCLUSIONS 



This study reveals that big games, such as the Derby Eland, which are species of major interest to 

 tourists, are still present in Benoue National Park (BNP). It also shows that big games have great 

 financial potential as an income earner and could serve as a sustainable basis upon which to build anti 

 poverty programs linked to tourism. The Derby Eland populations in Benoue National Park over the 

 years to the present indicate that the ecological systems prevailing therein are still capable of permitting 

 big games to thrive. 



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