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 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/1346/West-Africas-Endangered-Lions-A-Conversation-with-Wildlife-Conservation-Society-Nigeria-DirectorAndrew-Dunn.aspx#Comments 0 https://nigeria.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6910&ModuleID=13044&ArticleID=1346 https://nigeria.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=1346&PortalID=139&TabID=6910 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/1346/West-Africas-Endangered-Lions-A-Conversation-with-Wildlife-Conservation-Society-Nigeria-DirectorAndrew-Dunn.aspx Written by Carmen McCain This week I have been teaching Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali re-told by D.T. Niane from the recitation by Guinean griot Djeli Mamoudou Kouyate. The epic is tied to the landscape and environment of the old Mali empire, stretching from current day Senegal to Niger Republic. “Listen to the story of the son of the Buffalo, the son of the Lion,” the griot recounts. The great emperor Sundiata’s mother is spiritually linked to the buffalo, and Sundiata inherits his father Nare Maghan’s name Djata: “Lion.” As he grows up, he learns from the griot “why the lion was the protector of his father’s family.” Sundiata, himself, is described as having “the stateliness of the lion.” It was in the midst of my immersion in this myth that I read with dismay a Wildlife Conservation Society press release sent to me by Andrew Dunn, Director of WCS in Nigeria. It claims that there are fewer than 250 lions left in West Africa. This “king of the beasts” that has been so important to the history, literature and art of the region is in danger of extinction within the next decade. Andrew Dunn, who is based in Calabar, agreed to grant me an email interview about the issue. He has been working in Africa since 1989, initially on large mammal surveys of the rainforests of West Africa. The current focus of his work is providing support to improve protected area management and planning. He is also the Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa for the IUCN Transboundary Conservation Specialist Group and has written a number of park management plans, species action plans and guidebooks. In recognition of his conservation work in West Africa a butterfly was named after him in 2003:Lepidochrysops dunni. Tell me about the work your organization does. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), a private US nonprofit organization established in 1895, has been supporting conservation and applied research in Nigeria since 2001, working closely with the Ministry of Environment, the National Parks Service, Cross River State Forestry Commission, Bauchi State Government, universities, local NGOs and local communities. Based in Calabar, WCS currently has three long-term projects focused on saving the critically endangered Cross River gorilla in Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, the Mbe Mountains and Cross River National Park. In addition to these long-standing projects we have managed a conservation project in Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State since 2009, providing support for the management and protection of Yankari and its key populations of lions and elephants. WCS completed the first nationwide lion survey of Nigeria in 2009. WCS strengthened and integrated its projects throughout Nigeria by establishing a WCS Nigeria Country program in 2010.A key feature of our work in recent years has been the promotion of trans-boundary conservation between Nigeria and Cameroon. What has caused the decline of lions in West Africa? Lions have gradually disappeared across West Africa as human populations and their livestock herds have grown, competing for land with lions and other wildlife. As wild savannas are converted for agriculture and cattle, the lion’s natural prey is hunted out, and lions are killed by pastoralists fearing the loss of their herds. The problem has been made even worse by the loss of grazing reserves in the country. In the absence of available grazing areas, pastoralists often have little choice but to graze their livestock inside national parks and game reserves. This soon brings them into conflict with rangers and lions. At the same time, as hunters have decimated their natural prey, lions often have little choice but to prey on livestock. Over the years many rangers have been killed attempting to uphold the law, and lions, easily poisoned, are on the verge of extinction in the country. Therefore state governments across northern Nigeria must strengthen existing grazing reserves and/or establish new grazing reserves where possible. With all the other crises facing the region, why is the lion population a priority? Lion populations in Africa are unique. They are genetically distinct from the better-known lions of famous game parks in East and southern Africa. Recent molecular research shows they are closely related to the extinct “Barbary Lions,” which once roamed North Africa, as well as to the last Asiatic lions surviving in India. The West African lion once ranged continuously from Senegal to Nigeria. However a recent survey found that lions have suffered a massive population decline across West Africa. They are now extinct at many sites. It is estimated that only 250 adult lions remain in West Africa today, and that only four isolated and severely imperiled populations survive. Two of these four populations are found in Nigeria: Kainji Lake National Park in Niger and Kwara States and Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State. But the size of these populations is very small and the combined lion population left at these two sites is probably fewer than 30. Lions are important for Nigeria’s fledgling tourism industry. The key attraction for many of the visitors to Yankari in Bauchi State is the resident population of lions. Many times I have been thrilled to hear lions roaring at night outside my chalet at Yankari, a sound I never tire of hearing. What needs to be done to reverse this decline? Conservation requires funds, and current budgets for many of our national parks and game reserves are wholly inadequate to ensure their protection. We need more focus on the key sites remaining in Nigeria such as Yankari Game Reserve and Kainji Lake National Park. To save our remaining species, we need to provide more resources for our national parks and game reserves to ensure that they are well managed and protected effectively. This means more rangers to combat poaching. It also means providing the equipment, resources and training so that these staff can do their job. A long-term action plan to save lions in Nigeria is required, together with long-term funding. If we don’t act now, lions will be totally extinct within the next 10 years. Drastic measures may be needed to save Yankari. Fencing the entire reserve may be needed to prevent inevitable encroachment by people and livestock, reduce human-lion conflicts and reduce access by poachers. If lions are allowed to go extinct in Nigeria, the impact on our tourism industry would be massive, the loss of our national pride immeasurable. What other animals are at risk in Nigeria? Nigeria has already lost forever many species such as the giraffe, rhino and cheetah. Other animals at risk include the elephant, wild dog, leopard, hippopotamus, manatee, gorilla, chimpanzee and a number of rare primates such as the drill and red colobus monkey. How are Nigerian universities contributing to conservation efforts? Universities across the country are involved in the fight to save our species, collecting vital scientific information needed to develop more effective conservation strategies. For example, staff and students of the AP Leventis Ornithological Research Institute of the University of Jos are spearheading efforts to save rare bird species in the country such as the Ibadan malimbe. In Cross River State, staff and students from the University of Calabar are engaged in efforts to save Cross River gorillas, whilst staff from the University of Jalingo are doing similar work to save Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees in Gashaka-Gumti National Park. What can ordinary people do to help? Don’t buy ivory or ivory products. Don’t frequent traditional healers, some of whom use body parts from endangered species such as the lion and gorilla for their traditional remedies. We all know that bushmeat tastes good–but always insist that the bushmeat you buy from the market or order in a restaurant is not derived from endangered species and does not come from protected areas. We need to save these species for the future. They are part of our natural heritage and a source of pride for all Nigerians. They should not be squandered. However the people living around some of our key national parks and game reserves are among the poorest in the whole country. They are also expected to bear the costs when elephants damage their crops or lions prey on their livestock. More needs to be done to involve local communities in the conservation and management of our protected areas so that they also derive some benefits and understand what government is trying to do. Saving the lion and other critically endangered mammals, such as elephants, will require a massive commitment of resources from government with assistance from the international community. It is not too late if we act now. Thu, 02 Jan 2014 00:01:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:1346 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/967/Cross-Rivers-Boje-sees-invasion-of-rare-migratory-birds.aspx#Comments 0 https://nigeria.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6910&ModuleID=13044&ArticleID=967 https://nigeria.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=967&PortalID=139&TabID=6910 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/967/Cross-Rivers-Boje-sees-invasion-of-rare-migratory-birds.aspx BIRD enthusiasts are in for a treat, with more migratory birds, including some rarely species, flocking to Nigeria from Europe, especially barn Swallows. These birds have been coming to Boje for many years unannounced until it was reported in The Guardian in the early nineties. These swallows fly  from the UK to South Africa and then back again with a stopover in Ebakken-Boje, Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State in South South Nigeria. The birds stop  at Ebakke-Boje to rest and continue their journey. The Italian Swallows according to conservationists, come to Nigeria early and leave back to Italy while the British Swallows come to Nigeria later through South Africa and back to Britain. Their arrival in Britain from Africa  heralds the end of the cold season and the British are always happy for it. In the past when the birds arrive, the natives will hunt it for meat until conservationists intervened and this intervention has eventually produced the first ever mist netting and ringing of barn swallows by local communities at Ebakken-Boje, Cross River The Country Director, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Mr. Andrew Dunn said “the ringing and netting in the state was carried out from March18-22, 2013 by four local ringers and supervised by WCS”. Mr. Bassey Emmanuel of the WCS was the team leader. He said, “the exercise included four dawn and four dusk capture sessions at a nocturnal roost site at Ebakken-Boje, on the edge of Afi Mountain Wildlife sanctuary, Cross River State, Nigeria.  A total of 2,570 barn swallows were ringed.  Nine barn swallows previously ringed in six European countries (Italy, Spain, Holland, France, Croatia and UK) were recovered.  This is the first time that a swallow ringed in the UK has been recovered and released at this site.  The ringing exercise was funded by Professor Nicola Saino of the University of Milan and Pierfrancesco Micheloni of ISPRA, Bologna and supervised by WCS”. According to him, the objective of the ringing and netting is to continue the swallow ringing activity Mr. P. Micheloni established, provide refresher training for local ringers within the Ebakken community and sample the swallow roost at a different period of the year (normally only sampled in January). He said this ringing and netting programme will be of immensed benefits to the communities and the state as employment would be provided and the state can establish a tourism site as for a long time the State’s Tourism Bureau has been proposing on this. But with this programme now on ground, he said the tourism site can be developed attracting large number of tourists who will come in and pay entry fee to the community as it is done in Rwanda and some other tourism sites. To achieve this, Dunn suggested that the Cross River Tourism Bureau should collaborate more with the Ebakken community to put in place necessary facilities at the roost such as eco-lodge, and standard entry fee, to boost the tourism potential of the area and there should be more training on advance ringing procedures for the Boje ringing team. He stated that the ringing exercise lasted from 18th to 22nd March 2013, with 8 ringing sessions, (4 dawn and 4 dusk capture sessions) and “in all 2,570 barn swallows were captured using the mist nets and ringed. During the exercise we recovered nine barn swallows previously ringed in six European countries.  The recoveries were subjected to a few standard morphological observations such as recording the progress of molt of the wing feathers, observe subcutaneous fat deposit and others.  We also captured and released resident and migratory birds such as the blue-headed dove, bee-eater, hawk, weaver birds and willow warbler”. According to him, “barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) are long-distance swift flying migratory birds.  They are small and aerially insectivorous.  They spend the autumn in Europe breeding and winter in sub-Saharan Africa.  The barn swallows start arriving in Africa in September and return to Europe in April, they undergo a single annual molt, mostly in the African winter period.  One of the places barn swallows spend their winter in Africa is a nocturnal roost in Ebakken (Boje) community in Boki LGA of Cross River State, Nigeria.  Ebakken is an agrarian forested rural community; the community is also blessed with patches of hilly grassland which serves as a nocturnal swallow roost. “The roost is managed by the Ebakken community, this roost host millions of barn swallows each winter period (dry season in Nigeria), available records show that most of the barn swallows are from western and central European countries.  Pierfrancesco Micheloni has been ringing barn swallows at this roost for Istituto Superiore per la Protezione la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA) in conjunction with Ozzano ringing station of Bologna, Italy for about fifteen years, gathering useful scientific data for research purposes.   In collaboration with WCS, Ebakken community and other relevant conservation stakeholders, Mr. Micheloni trained a team of local ringers to build local  capacity, promote the conservation of the site and consolidate the scientific data collection at the site”. Tue, 21 May 2013 05:14:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:967 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/876/Hunting-others-threaten-gorillas-in-Nigeria-Cameroun-.aspx#Comments 0 https://nigeria.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6910&ModuleID=13044&ArticleID=876 https://nigeria.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=876&PortalID=139&TabID=6910 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/876/Hunting-others-threaten-gorillas-in-Nigeria-Cameroun-.aspx CONSERVATION experts have identified hunting and other human activities as major threats to gorillas in Nigeria and Cameroon. They made the submission after a two-day workshop convened by the Fish and Wildlife Service, United States Department of the Interior, in partnership with the governments of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that of the Republic of Cameroon. In a report by Andrew Dunn of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Nigeria about three to four gorillas were killed by poachers in the past two years in Nigeria and Cameroon. In his presentation on the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, the Chairman, Cross River State Forestry Commission Mr. Odigha Odigha, said the “Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary (AMWS) has been inadequately managed since it was established in 2000, and although patrols have increased since 2011 pressure remains high and levels of protection are still poor. “The estimated gorilla population is 25-30 individuals (based on the 2007 Action Plan).  Current threats were listed as: hunting (high); farming (high); logging (low within sanctuary) and NTFP use (medium)”. He pointed out that the major landslides in Buanchor and Boje areas in July 2012 were discussed and the possible connection with illegal farming activity on surrounding hillsides but key achievements in 2012 included the arrest of 2 hunters arrested for killing gorillas and at least 33 anti-poaching patrols. He noted that some of the constraints in protecting the gorillas and the forest include “insufficient funding; threats to the corridor linking Afi to Mbe; unclear boundaries of AMWS; shortage of vehicles; presence of large numbers of illegal farms within the sanctuary; lack of training for rangers and very low levels of awareness of the new forestry and wildlife law”. The experts focused on the need to eradicate illegal farms from within the sanctuary, and the possible linkage between these farms and the catastrophic landslides as the state government was encouraged to formally include conservation education within the school curriculum; as well as the need for all three sections of government to work together: local, state and federal. Other gorilla areas affected in Nigeria are the Mbe Mountains and the Okwangwo Division of Cross River National Park. Odigha explained that illegal farms will not be removed forcibly and that people need benefits from conservation so that they are willing to leave the sanctuary and alternative livelihoods so that they may be willing to change.  Conservation with a human face was recommended. For the Takamanda National Park in Cameroon, the Conservator, Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife (MINFOF) Mr. Walter Egbe, put the gorilla population at 30-35, based on surveys and nest counts but said threats were identified as “poaching (high); encroachment, primarily farming (low); logging (low); fire (medium); livestock grazing (medium) and unsustainable NTFP harvesting (medium) and illegal logging and the movement of illegal timber from Takamanda into Nigeria. He listed various achievements to include; construction of park infrastructure; the arrest and jailing of 3 illegal loggers; the arrest of 1 international elephant poacher and the arrest of 21 local hunters. Other sites in Cameroon so affected by similar human threats are Kagwene Gorilla Sanctuary, Cameroon, Mone Forest Reserve, Mawambi Hills and Mbulu Hills. On gorilla tourism, it was recommended that a working group should be established to address the issue of developing gorilla-based tourism to promote conservation of Cross River gorillas and provide an informed proposal to central government while in Cameroon, two sites (Kagwene and mwambi) were considered as pilots and that there should be a feasibility study to compare the two. Thu, 14 Feb 2013 06:01:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:876 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/875/Nigeria-Cameroun-plan-pact-on-gorilla-conservation.aspx#Comments 0 https://nigeria.wcs.org/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=6910&ModuleID=13044&ArticleID=875 https://nigeria.wcs.org:443/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=875&PortalID=139&TabID=6910 https://nigeria.wcs.org/About-Us/News/ID/875/Nigeria-Cameroun-plan-pact-on-gorilla-conservation.aspx NEW agreement to strengthen trans-boundary conservation and protect gorillas and other endangered species in the Nigeria and Cameroun forests may be underway. The proposed pact was agreed upon recently in a one day workshop organised by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) in collaboration with government partners with the theme, “Wildlife Without Borders: Strengthening Trans-boundary Conservation Collaboration between Nigeria and Cameroun” to strengthen trans-boundary conservation between the two countries. The participants also submitted that “a formal cooperation agreement between Nigeria and Cameroun should be signed as soon as possible (and) the issue of sustainable funding for conservation in the region should be addressed including an analysis of various trust funds options”. Similarly, it was resolved that “law enforcement and protection; research and monitoring; community involvement and conservation education and capacity building” be put in place. “Strengthening joint patrols between Cross River National Park in Nigeria and Korup National Park and Takamanda National Park in Cameroun was identified as an urgent priority to reduce levels of poaching.  The control of illegal logging requires more dialogue for improved solutions to address the trans-boundary trade in timber.” The Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa of the IUCN Trans-boundary Conservation Specialist Group, Mr. Andrew Dunn, explained “protected areas should be seen as providers of benefits beyond boundaries – beyond their boundaries on a map, beyond the boundaries of nation states, across societies, genders and generations.  Trans-boundary conservation has potential benefits for biodiversity and people as well as political and economic benefits”. He said, “this was the fifth trans-boundary workshop between Nigeria and Cameroun in recent years and the main purpose of the current workshop was to review and further strengthen trans-boundary collaboration between key partners on each side of the international border”. Chairman of the Cross River State Forestry Commission, Mr. Odigha Odigha, urged the workshop “to develop robust plans for the engagement of boundary communities if we hope to succeed in our conservation efforts. “We need them to be involved in this process and we need to recognise the fact that we can’t manage these forests as effectively as they can”. At the workshop the Cross River State Forestry Commission was formally invited to Cameroun for follow-up talks with MINFOF in Buea and “it was agreed that there should be an annual workshop to promote trans-boundary conservation between Nigeria and Cameroun. A total of 30 participants attended the one-day workshop including representatives from the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigeria National Parks Service, Cross River State Forestry Commission, Cross River National Park and WCS.  From Cameroun there were representatives from the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, Takamanda National Park, Mount Cameroun National Park, the Programme for the Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, WWF and WCS.  International participants from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the North Carolina Zoo and the Wildlife Conservation Society also attend the forum. Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:49:00 GMT f1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:875