Ivory Coast

Protected Areas

The Comoé National Park in the north-east of Côte d'Ivoire is one of the largest protected areas in West Africa and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Covering a wide variety of habitats that range from savannas to forests, the park is characterized by its great diversity of plant species. These varied habitats are also home to a wide variety of West African mammals, amphibians and birds. The park is protected by several national laws, but there are still many challenges especially in peripheral areas, such as issues related to poaching and agriculture.

In the south-west of Côte d'Ivoire, you can find the Tai National Park, one of the last remaining areas of tropical rainforest in West Africa. The park has been declared a Natural World Heritage Site in 1982 due to its great abundance of flora and fauna. The park is home to five threatened mammal species - the pygmy hippo, the olive colobus monkey, the leopard, the chimpanzee and the Jentink’s duiker.

The integral Nature Reserve of Mount Nimba is another protected area declared as a World Heritage Site in Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea. The site includes Mount Nimba, which is home to more than 200 endemic species, including several antelopes, felines, chimpanzees and viviparous toads. The park was inscribed on the list of World Heritage in Danger due to threats posed by poaching, mining and refugees in Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire.

More information about observing wildlife responsibly: http://turismo-responsable.com/en-s40-avistamientos