WildAid’s “No Pangolin On My Plate” (“Pas de Pangolin Dans Mon Assiette”) campaign received a big boost when singer-songwriter Krys M visited participating restaurants in Cameroon’s capital city Yaoundé.
Krys M, a WildAid ambassador and passionate supporter of conservation, was greeted enthusiastically by owners and staff of restaurants who have taken pangolin meat off the menus and made a public commitment not to serve it.
“As an artist and citizen, I am proud to support these courageous restaurant owners who have chosen responsibility and environmental protection,” she said. “By protecting the pangolin, we’re also protecting the future of our children — ensuring they can experience the beauty and richness of Cameroon’s natural world.”
Hunting, killing, selling, and eating pangolins is prohibited under Cameroonian law, as all three species found in the country have been given the strongest Category A protection for endangered species.
In the course of the campaign, campaigners have visited 591 restaurants serving bushmeat and traditional Cameroonian dishes. The overall response was very positive, with 341signing up for the campaign.
Among the restaurants visited were 237 restaurants that were serving pangolin meat. Of that number, 97 have already joined the campaign, representing 41% of the total. Those 97 restaurants have all pledged to stop serving pangolin meat.
“We believe that the generations after us also deserve the chance to discover the pangolin and benefit from the advantages of this animal species,” said Aline Dzeumekou Saah, a restaurant owner in Yaounde. “Seeking profit at all costs, to the detriment of pangolins’ survival, does not help us move forward in the fight against the consumption of this endangered species.”
She said some customers had left after seeing pangolin meat removed from the menu. “But when they give us a bit of their time, we explain the importance of protecting and preserving these animals,” she added. “We believe that all restaurant owners should support this campaign.”
Restaurants are demonstrating their commitment to the campaign by displaying the campaign logo outside their premises and hanging posters inside explaining the importance of preserving pangolins.
“To all other restaurant owners, I send out a strong message: let’s stop selling pangolin meat because it is an endangered animal,” said Aboubakar Mouto, a chef in Yaounde. “Beyond that, protecting them is a great opportunity to preserve the environment and biodiversity — soil fertility also depends on it.”
Each restaurant that joins the campaign becomes part of a national movement against the illegal trade in protected species, he added. “By stopping the sale of pangolin meat, these establishments send a strong message: it is possible to celebrate Cameroonian gastronomy while also protecting biodiversity.”
Restaurants joining the campaign have aligned themselves with ethical and sustainable practices, enhancing their reputation among environmentally conscious consumers. In this way, they are playing a vital role in conservation efforts and helping to preserve Cameroon’s rich natural heritage.
WildAid is promoting these restaurants as pangolin-free on a website created for the campaign, while visits from ambassadors and influencers are designed to encourage consumers to support participating restaurants and create a shared sense of purpose to protect pangolins.
“Even through my music, I’m an artist who supports Cameroonian values, traditions, and heritage,” Krys M said. “This cause fits in well with my way of seeing things, so why not add a little something extra and associate my image with the cause?”