Gola Rainforest National Park, UNESCO, Kailahun, Sierra Leone
The Gola Rainforest is the largest remnants of Upper Guinean Tropical Rainforest left in Sierra Leone. It covers an area of nearly 700 square kilometres where more than 330 bird species have been recorded, 14 of which face global risk of extinction, including the endangered rufous fishing-owl, Scotopella ussheri, and the Gola malimbe, Malimbus ballmanni. Of global conservation concern and no doubt the most charismatic bird species in the area is the white-necked picathartes, Picathartes gymnocephalus.
A variety of other flagship species are also found in Gola including the elusive pygmy hippo, Choeropsis liberiensis, threatened with extinction and only present in this part of Africa, an estimated population of 300 chimpanzees and 49 species of larger mammals. These species are only a few of those which drove the international recognition of this area as a global biodiversity hotspot, requiring utmost effort and attention from the conservation community.
Epic Sierra Leon Culture & Adventure Route © Monika Newbound
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