Gola National Park
IUCN Category II - National Park
F2
The Gola Forest National Park, also Gola Forest Rain Forest National Park (English Gola Forest National Park or Gola Rainforest National Park ) is located in southeastern Sierra Leone near the border to Liberia in the Eastern Province in the districts of Kailahun and Kenema.
Since December 2011, the pre-existing protected area has the status of a national park. It is considered one of the most important forest reserves in West Africa and one of the last untouched primary forests of Africa. It belongs as part of the Guinea forests of West Africa to the biodiversity hotspots of the world. Already in 2009, the Gola Rainforest National Park was designated as a transboundary Peace Park with the neighboring country.
- 2.1 fauna
- 2.2 Mammals
- 2.3 birds
- 2.4 Other animal species
The Park
Introduction
The National Park consists of the three areas, " Gola Central " (formerly " Gola North " ) ( about 460 km ²), " Gola South " (formerly " Gola West" and " Gola East" ) (230 km ²) and " Gola North " ( formerly " extension 2 " ) (60 km ²). The areas are located in the southeast of the country, about 330 kilometers from the capital, Freetown.
Gola Central is dominated by a hilly landscape at an altitude of over 300 meters above sea level. The highest elevation is approximately 475 meters. The area is crossed by the rivers Mogbai, Woiguwa, Waye, Koadi and Magoli. Except for the Waye all open out into the Mano, the border river to Liberia.
Gola North is separated by the Komboya River from Gola Central and crossed by Magbole. The park is adjacent to part of a section to the neighboring country of Liberia.
Gola Gola South is located southwest of Central and is characterized by an approximately 12 km wide strips separated (including through the village Nomo ) from the other two parts of the park. Here prevails the Wetlands. This part of the park is immediately adjacent to the Mano and forms the border to Liberia. The Bagra is 330 meters, the highest elevation in Gola East. The Mahoi River and the main road A015 cut through the park part.
There is an international research program on the Diana monkeys, supported by the British " Royal Society for the Protection of Birds " and " BirdLife International".
Check-in
The park is reached by a normal car on the provincial capital of Kenema (approx. 40 km). From there, a dirt road leads over Joru after Lalehun ( in the rainy season is an SUV necessary). From Pujehun there are about 30 km to the National Park.
Accommodation and facilities
Inter alia, by providing financial support the European Union is planned the construction of shelters, a visitor center, hiking trails. In the surrounding villages, there are some accommodations.
Fauna and Flora
The Gola Forest is one of the last refuges for rare animal and plant species, and is also the largest contiguous primary forest in Sierra Leone.
Plant world
It could be proven so far 970 species of plants.
Mammals
As one of the most important protected areas in the country, is the Gola Forest is home to more than 50 species of mammals. Of these, ten species are classified as apes (eg chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and Diana monkeys ( Cercopithecus diana Diana ) ). In addition, please refer to the endangered species forest elephant (Loxodonta africana cyclotis ), pygmy hippopotamuses ( Hexaprotodon liberiensis ) and Jentink Ducker ( Cephalophus jentinki )
The National Park is a paradise for ornithologists. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has detected 274 bird species, 14 of which are threatened with extinction. A 2009 observational study revealed 330 bird species of which at least 18 are rarely threatened by extinction. Among the best known species are the rare, but in the park, frequently found yellow-headed Felshüpfer ( Picathartes gymnocephalus ), the White-breasted Guineafowl ( Agelastes meleagrides ) and Ballmann -Weber ( Malimbus ball manni ).
Other animal species
More than 600 butterfly species have so far been detected in Gola.