Taï National Park

Taï National Park (French Parc National de Taï ) is a national park in southwestern Ivory Coast east of Mont Nimba parks in the districts of Moyen- Cavally and Bas -Sassandra with one of the last areas of tropical rain forest of West Africa, the annual precipitation is accordingly 1700 to over 2200 mm high. The park is one of the last refuges of the rare dwarf hippo.

Location

It is located about 200 km south of Man and 100 km from the coast, between the border with Liberia ( Cavally River ) in the west and the Sassandra River in the east (coordinates: 5 ° 45 '0 "N, 7 ° 40 ' 0 " W5.75 - 7.6666666666667Koordinaten: 5 ° 45 '0 " N, 7 ° 40 ' 0 " W). The height above sea level is 80 to 600 m ( Michelin Map No 953 ) at the highest point, Mont Nienokoue.

The area covers 3300 km ² with a 2,000 -acre buffer zone and is associated with the 730 km ² large reserve N'Zo.

Fauna

The Taï National Park is one of the most important refuges of dwarf hippo, which is found only in the West African rainforests. The reserve is also home to many other endangered species, eleven types of apes, including chimpanzees and numerous vervet monkeys, the Bongo, the African buffalo and various forest duikers, including the rare Jentink - Duckers and Zebraduckers, but also the hook blade. The approximately 750 round ear or forest elephant can survive only with sufficiently energetic protection.

History

In 1926 the territory of the French colonial administration as forest and wildlife reserve was placed under protection. National Park it was on 28 August 1972. 1978 it was recognized as a biosphere reserve and since 1982, the park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The pressure on the park due to poaching, agriculture and gold mining has increased in recent years.