Tajudeen Amusa

Participatory Survey and Conservation of Endangered Savannah Elephants of Kamuku and its Environment, Nigeria

Project team engage community leaders.

Project team engage community Stakeholders.

Project team at Elephant Survey Site.

The project area covers the Kamuku National Park and its environ in Kaduna State, north-western Nigeria. The Park, originally gazetted as Birnin Gwari Native Authority Forest Reserve in 1936 and upgraded to the status of a National Park in May 1999, represents one of the best remaining blocks of Sudan-Guinea Savanna vegetation in the Nigeria’s protected-area system. It is one of the country’s Key Biodiversity Areas with an enviable biodiversity profile including small but viable populations of the endangered savanna elephants, Loxodonta africana (EN).

The migration and marauding of these elephants to surrounding unprotected areas and the stressed human-nature relation in the area has increased the susceptibility of the Kamuku elephants to major threats including hunting for ivory, habitat destruction and a lack of conservation action plan. Without increased protection efforts, it is unlikely that the viable populations of this savanna elephants will survive long into the future. To avert this, a long road of environmental sensitivity including conservation education and joint action is required. Thus, this project will carry out the first systematic survey of the Kamuku elephants by involving local communities through capacity building and conservation education.

Sustainable conservation and management of wildlife species will depend on strengthening the capacity of the local individuals, communities and public to understand and implement conservation initiatives. Participatory survey of endangered savanna elephants of Kamuku and its environ focusing on their population status, distribution and migration pattern in the area is vital to allow development of a conservation plan to offer protection for the species.

Elephants are highly susceptible to disturbance, thus they can be used as an umbrella species to ensure the conservation of other endangered plants and animals. They are not only a flagship species, but also a keystone species across the world particularly for the Sudan-Guinea Savanna vegetation. In addition, community level conservation education and training will help raise awareness and enlightenment of local communities on the need for joint action towards protecting the species and securing their supports for future conservation efforts.

This project will also contribute to enhance the protection of the unique Sudan-Guinea Savannah vegetation block in the area. Besides, conservation of wildlife species can only occur if their habitats are well maintained. Furthermore, the project expected outcome would make an important connection in stimulation of eco- tourism activities and derivation of other ecosystem services.

For further information contact teejayui@yahoo.com