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WITH African elephant becoming endangered species due to poaching by hunters, a conservation group - Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bauchi state government to preserve Yankari Game Reserve and protect elephants within the area.  Bauchi is a key protected area in Nigeria that contains the largest remaining population of elephants in the nation and one of the largest in West Africa. The reserve contains an estimated 350 elephants – the only viable population remaining in Nigeria. In addition, the 866-square-mile (2,244 square kilometers) reserve supports important populations of lion, buffalo, hippo, roan antelope, and hartebeest.  Originally created as a game reserve in 1956, Yankari was upgraded to a national park in 1991. It was managed by the National Parks Service until 2006 when responsibility for the management of the reserve was handed back to Bauchi State Government. Since then tourism infrastructure has been dramatically improved. Yankari is now one of the most popular tourism destinations in Nigeria.   A statement from the Country Director, WCS Nigeria Programme, Mr. Andrew Dunn, said, “support from WCS began in 2009.  Since then protection of wildlife has improved, although hunting and grazing of livestock within the reserve have not yet been brought under full control.   He disclosed that unconfirmed reports suggest that an unknown number of elephants may have been killed in recent years to supply Nigeria’s illegal trade in ivory.    “In addition to the funds provided by Bauchi State Government under the terms of the MOU” he said, “WCS’s 96 Elephants campaign will also provide funding and support for regular anti-poaching patrols in Yankari including equipment and training”.  “Yankari Game Reserve is an ecological gem of West Africa,” said Dr. James Deutsch, Executive Director of WCS’s Africa Programme. “We are extremely proud to be entrusted with preserving this critically important wildlife area by the Governor of Bauchi State, Malam Isa Yuguda for the benefit of the people of Bauchi State and Nigeria.   WCS saves wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature and it envisions a world where wildlife thrives in healthy lands and seas, valued by societies that embrace and benefit from the diversity and integrity of life on earth.  Dunn noted that “WCS is leading global efforts to save Africa’s elephants and end the current poaching and ivory trafficking crisis in September, WCS launched its 96 Elephants campaign to amplify and support the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) “Partnership to Save Africa’s Elephants” by stopping the killing, stopping the trafficking, and stopping the demand”.

   Meanwhile, the Bamba in Boki LGA, Cross River State has handed over a hunter who killed a Chimpanzee to the state’s task force. Led by their able chief, Vincent O. Mkpe, the community quickly identified the hunter responsible for this heinous act as Ubua Stanley, and he was duly arrested.  A joint team from the Governor’s Task Force on Anti-Deforestation and the Cross River State Forestry Commission immediately traveled to the village, ensuring that the culprit appeared before the magistrate in Obubra in less than 24 hours.  Dunn said, “justice was indeed swift and, using the newly revised forestry and wildlife law of Cross River State (2010), the man was sentenced to one year imprisonment with the option of a N100, 000 fine”  The nine communities that surround the mountain traditionally own the Mbe Mountains and the area is managed for conservation and development by the Conservation Association of the Mbe Mountains (CAMM) with support from the WCS and is home to other rare and endangered species such as the Cross River gorilla in addition to the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee.  He said, “the importance of the Mbe Mountains as a wildlife haven, and a source of pride for Cross River State, has not gone unnoticed.  Bamba the Gorilla was recently unveiled as the official mascot and logo for the 19th National Sports Festival scheduled for Calabar in November 2014” The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee is the most endangered of four subspecies of chimpanzee currently found in Africa.  Man’s closest living relative, the ape is fully protected by Nigerian law, and now by communities also.