Bénoué National Park

The Bénoué National Park is a national park in the North Province of Cameroon. Takes its name from the River Benue Park, which flows through the park. The park is considered the zweitergiebigste Wildlife Reserve in Cameroon after the Waza National Park.

History

In 1932 the area was declared a wildlife reserve. 1968 the conversion into a national park. In 1982 the park was recognized as a biosphere reserve.

Geography

The Bénoué National Park is located in the Guinea savanna belt, a humid savanna between the towns of Garoua in the north and in the south Ngaoundéré .. In the park there are numerous rocky hills, woodland and some waters ( including the Bénoué river). In the middle of the park there are small salt pans and mineral-rich soils.

The rocky sections at Hosséré Gorna in the north of the park range from 600 to 750 meters above sea level, the levels between 250 and 500 meters. The entire park covers an area of ​​around 1,800 km ².

Climate

With an annual rainfall of about 800 to 1200 mm, in the dry season from November to May, water shortages occur.

Biodiversity

Flora

Dry Sudan zone dominated the flora of the park. Are widespread dry forests of Anogeissus leiocarpa. One of the trees is occurring here Afzelia africana.

Fauna

Mammals

Are home to many wild animals on the shore regions of the Bénoué. The park is best known for its hippo herds, preferably at night come to graze on land, known .. The elephant is another pachyderm, which can be observed with some luck in the park. Among the primates of the park you will find baboons. In Bénoué National Park also particularly endangered species live like the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus ), the African manatee ( Trichechus senegalensis ) and the giant eland ( taurotragus derbianus ). Less vulnerable in the park is also living bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus ). A more detailed study on the development of Kob (Kobus kob ) in Bénoué National Park was established in 2001. Moreover, here lions, leopards, antelopes lyre, waterbuck and buffalo occur.

For ornithologists, the park is a paradise. An inventory by BirdLife International found at least 306 different bird species, including the Rotbürzelwürger (Lanius Gubernator ), the Waxbill ( Estrilda caerulescens ), the Rotmaskenastrild ( Pytilia hypogrammica ) and the Small Pünktchenamarant ( Lagonosticta rufopicta ). The Adamauaturteltaube ( Streptopelia hypopyrrha ) and the crepuscular Fledermausaar ( Macheiramphus alcinus ) are located in the park.

Herpetofauna

Among the reported amphibians are the Maskarenenfrosch ( Ptychadena mascareniensis ), the Tremolo Sand Frog ( Tomopterna cryptotis ) and the winning bullfrog ( Hoplobatrachus occipital ).