In the Gabon rainforest, where the trees sing in the wind and the rivers whisper ancient secrets, lies the Baka village of Adjap. This village, nestled in the heart of the equatorial forest on the banks of the Ivindo river, is renowned for its deep connection with Nature and its ancestral traditions. They live from fishing, hunting and gathering, as well as from the harvests of their plantations. It is one of the few villages where people sleep in the plantations to protect them from elephant attacks.
Madame DOUWA Georgette, affectionately known as ‘Mama Chef’, the chief of the village of Adjap, bears a huge responsibility. Under her leadership, the village prospers thanks to agriculture and the harvesting of wild mangoes, a fruit used to prepare a sauce that is famous in Gabon: Odika.
Every year, when the wild mango trees, laden with their golden, tangy fruit, are dressed in their finest, the Baka prepare for their expedition. Wild mangoes are a gift from the forest, but they are not easy to come by. Their harvest is disrupted by the frequent presence of notorious neighbours: elephants.
Elephants are attracted by the richness of the plantations. They have started to eat the crops. Mama Chef, determined to preserve the livelihood of her people while respecting the balance of the forest, decides to seek help.

A new hope
She called on WWF Gabon, renowned for its expertise in the management of human-wildlife conflicts. Léopoldine TEGUIA, affectionately known as Léo, the socio-community manager, understanding the needs of the Baka, went to the Adjap village with an innovative and promising solution: a lighting method.

The luminous method
Léo and the team installed lighting devices around the plantations. These are used to repel elephants, for whom light at night indicates the presence of humans in the plantations and therefore a danger. The method is simple but ingenious: devices emitting flashing coloured light and spotlights made mobile by a revolving system are placed around the plantations. The flashing lights and the movement of the installations gently divert the elephants from their path towards the plantations.
 
The Baka welcome the new installations with curiosity and hope. Mama Chef and Léo organised a meeting with the community to explain how the new method worked and to involve them in the installation process. The clever Baka got involved and even suggested adaptations to make the strobe lights more visible and effective.

The impact of light
The first few nights are crucial. Attracted by the smell of wild mangoes, tubers and the promise of abundant food, the elephants approach the plantations. But as soon as they see the lights, they turn away, confused and disturbed. The plantations remain intact, and the Baka begin to feel a growing sense of relief.

A new beginning
The Baka people continue to sleep in their plantations, with a renewed sense of security. As the days pass, the forest continues to sing its ancestral melody. Thanks to the intervention of WWF Gabon, the Baka of the village of Adjap are able to preserve their plantation while coexisting peacefully with the giants of the forest.

The village of Adjap remains an inspiring example of how tradition and innovation can come together to protect both communities and the environment.