On a follow -up visit on breeding activities, we observed the seriousness with which breeder installed by CIPCRE carry out their activities. We went respectively to Baham, Banjoun and Bafousam to meet these men and women who have made hedgehog breeding a passion. Reports.

Mme Kayo Rose: Pioneer aulucodes breeder in Baham

All started in 2004 when Mme. Kayo learned about hedgehog breeding. She got her self registered in the very first training for breeders organised by CIPCRE in Bafoussam. Since then she now works on her own and breeds hedgehog under very “correct” hygienic conditions, according to her trainer/supervisor Mr. Alphonse Azebaze, a CIPCRE zoo technical engineer and head of the hedgehog breeding and distribution station in Bafoussam. A pig and poultry farmer since 2004, Mme. Kayo Rose, was already used to breeding. But since that date, she plunged into a peculiar kind of breeding: hedgehog breeding. Today, she counts about forty animals has trained and installed one person with a male and two female hedgehogs. For CIPCRE, her success in breeding is proof that women can undertake hedgehog farming just like men.

Mme. Kayo Rose is involved in all tasks related to hedgehog farming: fodder harvesting, stall cleaning, animal castration, etc.

She has voluntarily kept the size of her livestock small because of the volume of work demanded by that kind of breeding. Presently, she receives a large number of visitors, who do not only want to discover that kind of rare activity undertaken by a woman, but also to understand hedgehog breeding. Mrs. Kay is a great subject of curiosity in Baham and is proud of her achievements.  Mr. Alphonse Azebaze, who accompanied us on this reporting assignment, describes her farm as a model.  Today, Mme. Kayo is a member of a CIG of breeders, who have developed a project for the expansion of hedgehog farming in Baham.

Thomas Fotso, a disciplined breeder

“A disciplined breeder.” This is how zoo technical engineer, Mr. Alphonse Azebeze, describes this retired government employee who has made a second life thanks to hedgehog breeding. Presently he has more than ten animals in his farm. He plans to increase the number by building more stalls to take in more animals. One of the peculiarities of Mr. Thomas’ farm is that stalls are built with recycled material – a thing his supervisor has strongly appreciated.

 

Michel Boyom, a model breeder

He owns enough space to expand his farm as the time comes. He scrupulously follows the breeding techniques handed down to him by his supervisor.  He does not hesitate trying out new methods and techniques that can ease his task (he has, for example, tried out the introduction of new herbs in the nutrition of animals. M. Tayim has trained and helped set up three breeders.)

 

Mr. & Mrs. Ngnitenzem, united in hedgehog breeding

With a little over 70 animals, the Ngitenzem couple’s farm is, in our view, far beyond and example of success, certainly also because of the implication of the women in the activity. Mme and Mrs Ngitenzem trained together in 2004 and decided to launch the activity that also involves their children, who clean stalls, feed the animals, and go out to harvest forage. In this family, Mme Ngnitezem considers hedgehogs as her children. She loves them as much as her children, except that she kills them to consume their soft and delicious meet.  Her husband and children have literally adopted these small animals that sometimes can be found wondering around the house, warming themselves by the fireside and sleeping in daddy’s room.