You are here: Home : Newsroom : Zoo Veterinarian Family Safe in Cameroon
N.C. ZOO VETERINARIAN AND FAMILY REPORTED SAFE IN CAMEROON
BY: Rod HackneyFeb. 28, 2008
ASHEBORO—Dr. Mike Loomis, chief veterinarian for the North
Carolina Zoo, along with his wife and several family members and friends, were reported to be safe in Cameroon Thursday as they made plans to leave the country amidst civil strife that has raged in the west African nation this week.
For more than 10 years, Loomis has made regular trips to Cameroon as the head of a scientific project aimed at saving the country’s dwindling elephant population. The zoo vet has been in Cameroon since January 7 to continue work on the project, but also opted to take a couple weeks of vacation during the trip. During his time off, Loomis, an Asheboro resident, was joined in Cameroon by his wife, Glenda, his brother and sister-in-law, Stephen and Jeanne Loomis of Connecticut, his sister and brother-in-law, Jim and Karin Davies of California, and a third couple, Jack and Janet Sauer, also of Connecticut.
At least seven people have been killed after riots and looting broke out in several of Cameroon's largest cities this week. According to wire service reports, the protests have been sparked by fuel price increases that have led to strikes by truckers and taxi drivers. Correspondents say protesters are also angered by suggestions that Cameroon President Paul Biya may attempt to amend the constitution to extend his 25 years in power. Police have battled protesters and demonstrations at major road junctions with widespread looting by armed youths, according to international news sources.
But all eight members of Loomis’ group were reported to be safe Thursday in a hotel in the coastal resort town of Kribi in Southwestern Cameroon, according to Mark MacAllister, coordinator of online learning for the N.C. Zoological Society, the zoo’s non-profit support organization.
MacAllister has remained in contact with Loomis throughout his trip via cell and satellite phone in order to post regular field reports on the elephant project for the society’s educational Web site “Field Trip Earth.” (www.fieldtripearth.org)
"They’re holding together fine," said MacAllister, who spoke with Loomis early Thursday. "Mike said things got pretty tense on Wednesday, but they seemed to have improved today and they don’t feel specifically in danger."
MacAllister, who is coordinating flight arrangements for the group to leave as soon as Friday, said Loomis has also been in contact with the U.S. Embassy in the Cameroon capital of Yaounde.
"The embassy folks know where they are and may give them an escort to the airport from Kribi," MacAllister added.
Loomis' wife and the rest of the group will be leaving immediately, although the zoo vet is considering remaining and returning to the field depending upon developments over the next few days, MacAllister said. Loomis, who has served as the N.C. Zoo’s chief veterinarian for 23 years, was originally slated to remain in Cameroon through mid-March.
The 58-year-old zoo vet has devoted a great deal of time and effort over the past decade to the Cameroon elephant conservation project, which partners the N.C. Zoo and Zoo Society with the World Wide Fund for Nature and the Cameroon Ministry of Environment and Forests. The project utilizes satellite tracking collars installed on elephants to identify the migration routes of herds in several areas of the country. The effort has been credited with drastically reducing the number of elephants and humans killed due to conflicts with farmers and villagers in the migration routes.
The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary; Michael F. Easley, Governor.