Bio-diversity

The Objective: Pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis), or Pygmy hippo, is literally known in some Liberian languages as water cow . The animal spends most of its time in water, along banks of rivers or creeks, or in marshy areas. It may spend short time on dry land either to quickly find food or to move from one wet area to another. Waikuwait (2001) mentioned that Pygmy hippo was found in associations of swamp areas and watercourses in dense forest stands in and outside the Sapo National Park. He also observed that the animal can move in mixed habitats (this could mean upland high forest, lowland high forest, or marshy areas). Pygmy hippopotamus is worthy of being a flag-shape species for Liberia because of its level of endemism. Furthermore, it is on the Threatened Species list and fully protected by the Wildlife Law of Liberia. Unfortunately, the range of the animal seems to be declining rapidly. This creates the need to investigate its presence and to engage in sustainable management of its habitats, wherever they can be found in the country. The project is based on the vision of the Liberian Government to protect endemic and endangered wildlife species in the country, and to integrate poverty reduction strategy into the protected area network programme of the country. Therefore, its rationale is to: (a) contribute to protected area management plan of the Government, (b) contribute to the wildlife conservation mandate of the FDA, (c) engage and involve local communities in biodiversity conservation, and (d) contribute to the Poverty Reduction Strategy of the Government The goal of the project is also to contribute to the conservation and protection of Pygmy hippopotamus and its habitat in Liberia which, in the long run, will significantly impact the protection and conservation of other endangered fauna species in the Upper Guinea Rainforest of West Africa.

Liberia