Oliver Fankem
Director for Central Africa
Oliver Fankem is a conservation biologist from Cameroon and our new Director for Central Africa.
Oliver’s dedication to conservation began in his childhood, when he spent most of his days exploring for “forest snacks” and fishing. He was in awe of a TV program called “Splendeur Sauvage” and of videos from Jacques Cousteau’s marine expeditions.
Later, he completed two MSc degrees (Wildlife Management at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and Conservation Biology at the University of Kent, UK). During his studies, he carried out work in the Republic of Benin, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, taking part in wildlife censuses, anti-poaching patrols, community engagement, and more in various national parks.
Over the last 15 years he has worked on conservation in Cameroon, providing technical support in protected area management, law enforcement, and wildlife monitoring, eventually securing a position with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). Since 2009, he advanced within ZSL from Assistant Manager in 2009 to ZSL TRIDOM Landscape Manager in 2019. As TRIDOM Landscape manager, he was responsible for the management of all of ZSL’s activities, including liaising with other partners, in TRIDOM (a network of protected areas in Cameroon made up of Dja Wildlife Reserve, Mengame Gorilla Sanctuary, Ngoila Wildlife Reserve, Nki National Park, Boumba Bek National Park, and their peripheries).
This work gave him the opportunity to implement site-based protection systems in focal sites, coordinate community engagement, develop intelligence networks including a community surveillance network, coordinate multiple landscape law enforcement operations, and test several approaches to addressing Cameroon-Gabon transboundary wildlife crime.
He has contributed to successful grant applications such as ECOFAC VI, USFWS African Elephant Conservation Fund, IWT Challenge Fund, Rufford, Arcus, and Save The Elephants, for a total of over three million dollars. Over the last three years, he has managed the delivery of ZSL’s TRIDOM Conservation Programme to ensure effective operations and delivery of ZSL’s strategy in Cameroon.
