https://nigeria.wcs.org RSS feeds for WCS Nigeria 60 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/2495/Nigeria-Bamba-Community-Moves-to-Save-Endangered-Chimpazees-in-Cross-River.aspx#Comments 0 https://nigeria.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6910&ModuleID=13044&ArticleID=2495 https://nigeria.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2495&PortalID=139&TabID=6910 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/2495/Nigeria-Bamba-Community-Moves-to-Save-Endangered-Chimpazees-in-Cross-River.aspx By Alex Abutu, 4 June 2014 The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee is the rarest and 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.  When a chimpanzee was recently killed by a hunter in the Mbe Mountains, the entire community of Bamba LGA, Cross River State, rose to protest the killing. Led by their 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 ensured that the culprit appeared before the magistrate court in Obubra, in less than 24 hours. 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. Alternatively, he was asked by the court to pay a fine of N100, 000. An upcoming tourist destination, the Mbe Mountains are traditionally owned by the nine communities that surrounded the mountain. The area is managed for conservation and development by the Conservation Association of the Mbe Mountains (CAMM) with support from the Wildlife Conservation Society, and is home to other rare and endangered species such as the Cross River guerrilla, in addition to the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee. 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 Guerilla, was recently unveiled as the official mascot and logo for the 19th National Sports Festival scheduled for Calabar in November 2014. Francis Okeke Thu, 12 Jun 2014 10:16:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2495 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/2473/Nigeria-Succour-for-Yankari-Elephants.aspx#Comments 0 https://nigeria.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6910&ModuleID=13044&ArticleID=2473 https://nigeria.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2473&PortalID=139&TabID=6910 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/2473/Nigeria-Succour-for-Yankari-Elephants.aspx By Alex Abutu, 28 May 2014 Yankari Game Reserve contains the largest surviving contingent of elephants in Nigeria and West Africa but, of late, these animals have been subjected to ill treatment, including killing them for the thriving ivory market in Asia.The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) recently entered into a strategic partnership with the Bauchi State government to manage the conservation of Yankari Game Reserve.A statement by WCS said the Society signed a four-year agreement with officials of the state to manage conservation work in Yankari, considered the nation's richest protected area.The reserve contains an estimated 350 elephants - the only viable population remaining in Nigeria. In addition, the 866-square-mile (2,244 square kilometres) 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. Support from WCS began in 2009 and it has led to a significant improvement in the protection of wildlife, although hunting and grazing of livestock within the reserve have not yet been brought under full control. Reports suggest that an unknown number of elephants may have been killed in recent years to sustain Nigeria's illegal trade in ivory. In addition to the funds provided by Bauchi State government under the terms of the agreement, WCS's 96 Elephants campaign will also provide funding and support for regular anti-poaching patrols in Yankari, including equipment and training. Dr. James Deutsch, Executive Director of WCS's Africa Programme said: "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 is working to save wildlife and wild places worldwide through science, conservation action, education, and inspiring people to value nature. Francis Okeke Wed, 04 Jun 2014 05:58:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2473 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/2471/Conservationists-Bauchi-in-MoU-to-protect-Elephants-in-Yankari-Game-Reserve.aspx#Comments 0 https://nigeria.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6910&ModuleID=13044&ArticleID=2471 https://nigeria.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=2471&PortalID=139&TabID=6910 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/2471/Conservationists-Bauchi-in-MoU-to-protect-Elephants-in-Yankari-Game-Reserve.aspx Written by Anietie Akpan, Calabar 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. Francis Okeke Wed, 04 Jun 2014 04:49:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:2471 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/1398/10m-plan-to-save-worlds-rarest-gorillaFive-year-conservation-project-could-revive-the-population-of-Cross-River-gorilla-in-their-only-remaining-habitat-in-Africa.aspx#Comments 0 https://nigeria.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6910&ModuleID=13044&ArticleID=1398 https://nigeria.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1398&PortalID=139&TabID=6910 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/1398/10m-plan-to-save-worlds-rarest-gorillaFive-year-conservation-project-could-revive-the-population-of-Cross-River-gorilla-in-their-only-remaining-habitat-in-Africa.aspx Adam Vaughan The world’s rarest gorilla, which is believed to be down to less than 300 remaining individuals, can be saved with a $10.5m action plan, conservationists say. The Cross River gorilla (Gorilla gorilla diehli) lives in a hilly rainforest area around 12,000 sq km in size along the Nigeria-Cameroon border, regarded as a globally significant “biodiversity hotspot.” It is the rarest of four gorilla sub-species and is listed as critically endangered. But experts at the Wildlife Conservation Society believe its population could remain stable and even increase if a new five-year plan is put into place to protect it from poachers who hunt it for bushmeat, and habitat loss as land is turned over to farming. The plan says that levels of poaching in the past may have been underestimated, and that the forest it lives in is becoming increasingly fragmented, as trees are cleared for farming, particularly in Nigeria. “With such a small population, the loss of even a few individuals each year represents a very serious threat to their long-term survival,” the report says. The plan for 2014-2019 calls for more research into the gorillas’ distribution, more local-led conservation efforts, monitoring of disease, ecotourism developments, and safeguarding of ‘corridors’ between the species’ main sites. The species has shorter palates than other gorillas, and short, strong jaws, which ecologists believe may be because they feed on tough tree bark during dry seasons. “The outlook for the Cross River gorilla is encouraging, provided we build on past successes and continue with key partnerships to protect this great ape and its remaining habitat,” said Andrew Dunn, lead author of the report. Francis Okeke Mon, 24 Mar 2014 07:43:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1398