Wildlife                         

Introduction

Manyu Division with her dense Rain Forest is a natural habitat for many wildlives. The exact number of animal, bird, insect and plant species in Manyuland is not known and might not be known for a long time. Manyu rivers and streams that drain into the Cross River basin also provide a natural habitat for fresh water animals and fishes. Of recent, the government of Cameroon has created reserved parks where farming and hunting by the citizens are prohibited, giving sanctuaries to animals, plants and fishes.

There is no record of Manyu people doing any formal management of wild life. And there are no known laws passed by local leaders outlawing the hunting and fishing of certain animals or fishes.  But over the years local communities have punished people who use very destructive methods of fishing.  These methods involved the use of chemicals to kill fish. Some of the fishes caught make people sick and have been fatal in some instances.

Animals

Among the best known animals are the following:

Chimpanzees (ekruika) This animal is greatly admired for its strength. The chimpanzee is generally not hunted as people know the danger of hunting them. Manyu people agree that this animal resembles mankind, one more reason they do not hunt them.

Deer (nsoe) The deer is a common hunted animal.  It tastes well. Women especially pregnant women are advised not to eat deer meat. Manyu people believed ghosts end up as deers at the end of their ghost lives. Any deer that has tough meat is believed to have originated this way.

Elephants (nsuk) The elephant is the largest land animal in Manyuland. It is feared and respected. Elephants were not generally hunter. But with a permit issued by the government people can hunt them.  Most elephants are killed for their tusk. Most chiefdoms own a pair of elephant tusks (babang etok). When a sitting chief transfers this pair of horns to another family then Chiefdom has been permanently been moved from his family to the new family. In Manyu folklore, the elephant is believed to have obtained its eyes from the earthworm. The worm became blind and the elephant ended up with small eyes.

Hare (retaeh This little animal is cast in every folklore as a very clever animal. Even with hunting dogs it is generally difficult to kill it. But the hare is a very common animal and one its habits are well known.

Leopards (nkwo) This is another community animal. And it represents the highest authority in Manyuland. Anyone who kills a leopard in Manyuland must present this animal only to the village chief (mfor/nfor etok). This is the law of the land. This act serves two purposes. A recognition of the chief's authority. And for security reasons. The wickers of a leopard are believed dangerous and must be removed and disposed safely. The chief in turn offers the killer a gift and a special title for his bravery. People rarely hunt leopards. Most Leopards are killed and cut in traps meant for other animals such as deers and wild pigs.

Monkeys (nsek) Different species of monkeys can be found in Manyuland. The white belly monkey (ekitewhy) is the most common. Monkeys are hunted and eaten.

Pagoline (njeah) This animal is very slow and rarely escapes when found. However, people are advised not be like a pagoline if you do have its armored body.

Porcupine (nyuek) The porcupine is one animal Manyu people know quite well as it features in folklores and idioms. Manyu people believe the bitterness of the porcupine's liver was due to it keeping too many secrets. So one is often advised not to keep too many secrets because ones liver will become as bitter as that of the porcupine - making him angry all the time.

Snakes

The best known snakes are the following

Black Mamba (maurie nyoe): This is a very common snake believed not to be poisonous and often killed or caught in a trap (ntoh). It is eaten in Manyuland when it is of a reasonable size. It is often targeted because it attacks poultry and might enter houses in search of rats.

Green Snake: This snake is the most commonly seen snake around houses. It is believed to be non-poisonous. Most attempts to kill it often end up  unsuccessful because the snake is fast and blends very well in grass. It is never eaten. However, green snakes are killed more by chicken especially hens protecting their young chicks.

Python (ngem) : This is the biggest snake in Manyuland. Though the most common species is the Rock Python, the water Python or Anaconda (ngem nyen) is believed to exist. The Python is a very feared snake and is an animal of community power. Its ability to kill by constriction, size and ability to swallow large animals contributes to the fear and respect accorded it. For security reasons this snake was declared a community animal because of its bile, believed to be one of  the most potent poisons. Anyone who kills a Python is required by traditional law to report the kill and bring it in whole to a chief or a sub-chief. The bile is removed and the chief or sub-chief accompanied by the elders or members of the village council destroy and dispose of the bile in very deep pit toilet.

Viper (efie): The viper is equally another feared snake because its bites are fatal if not treated immediately. It is a very slow snake, and it is portrayed in Manyu folklores as a very forgiving snake. Many people who can control their anger are always liken to vipers. This snake is also eaten when its size is reasonable. People are advised never to carry a dead viper close to their body because it is known to give birth to live young snakes who have lethal bites also.

Yellow Mamba (ebeban): Though this snake is very rare to see, it is very feared.  It is the only snake believed to have the ability to fly and can penetrate through someone like a missile. It is believed to have a very powerful whistling sound. It is known to live mostly on tree branches.

Birds

Among the best known birds are the following:

Hawk (tawoback) : The hawk is admired for its prowess and speed at catching chickens. But poultry owners hate it. Sometimes there are  attempts made to catch this bird.  However, it is not eaten.
Kite: The kite, like the hawk, is hated but not admired. It generally hovers overhead prior to attacking a chicken.

King Fisher (nsang): In Manyu folklore, this bird is believed to be able to warn people of pending danger. However, you must know how to interpret its behavior and sound. Many people will discontinue a journey if this bird flies across their part from left to right.

Owl (epem): If any bird scares Manyu people this bird is certainly one of them.  Its nocturnal feeding habits which makes the bird active at night, gives its bad reputation. Everything about this bird is associated with witchcraft. Many people start burning a special natural wax (kerue) once they hear the cries of this bird This wax is believed to have the power to stop the bird from harming anyone.

Palm weaver (kijiegie) A flock of weaver birds is very destructive. They build their nests on a coconut in the process killing the tree because all the fronts are destroyed. Unable to produce food, the plant dies. Manyu people do not know why these birds chose a particular tree but some people believe witchcraft plays a role in which tree they attack.

Parrot (ngok nseng) The parrot is a bird that only very important people and chiefs are allowed to wear its feather on their hats. A parrot'

s feather symbolizes authority and power. However, one who fears a lot is liken to the parrot because it often sits on the highest branch of the tallest tree to be out of reach from the hunters bullet.

Wood Pecker (Kekpo) This bird is very common in Manyuland and it is featured in Manyu folklore. It is alleged that the wood pecker had bragged to other birds about the toughness of its beak and mocked them because they did not bury their parents well. He promised them that the day his mother dies, it will  bury its mother by breaking a rock into two with its beak and bury the mother in-between. When the mother died, the wood pecker was suffering from mouth cancer and was unable to fulfill its promise. The moral of this anecdote, learn to be humble with your prowess.