Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve
Encyclopedia
Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve is a national park in The Gambia
. Established in 1996 it covers 220 square kilometres.
The Wetland Reserve is located on the north bank of the River Gambia, approximately 100 km (52 nautical miles) from the river mouth. The name is derived from the Bao Bolon tributary that rises in Senegal
and enters the River Gambia. It extends from the River Gambia north to the Senegalese border along the Baobolon tributary.
: Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve. Since 1975, this convention, whose draft had been iniated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), protects the habitat
of water bird
s and Charadriiformes
. For other nature reserves in the country, like Tanbi Wetland Complex
or Niumi National Park
(NNP), a Ramsar acknowledgement is also being aimed at by the Gambian authorities. As with NNP, it is intended to extend Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve across the border and to jointly administrate the area with Senegal
ese authorities.
.
Chiefly, the reserve is made up of the river Bao Bolong's estuary
, one of the bigger tributaries
of the river Gambia. It is located about 100 km away from the Gambia's mouth into Atlantic Ocean
. The roughly 100 km long Bao Bolong river's spring is situated in Senegal. Furthermore, BBWR includes the rivers Salokini Bolong, Mandon Bolong, Duntu Malang Bolong, Tanku Bolong and Katchang Bolong.
The Gambia river thereby formes the southern boundayr of the protected area. Approximately two kilometres away on the opposite bank of the river, the roughly 115 km² large Kiang West National Park
is located. A some two and a half kilometres wide zone of dense mangrove
forest adjoines to the river. To the west lies the town of Salikenne (population about 4,000), which is also located near the Dobo Forest Park of 7.32 km². At the western border, the Jalabiro Forest Park of 0.59 km² can moreover be found.
The northern edge is bordered by the north bank road, Gambia's secondmost important highway
. Along this road and the fork to Salikenne, several smaller towns like Nja Kunda, Minti Kunda, Kekuta Kunda, No Kunda, Konti Kunda Sukoto, Konti Kunda Nji and Illiassa are situated. In the east, following a fork of nine km length from the north bank road, the town of Katchang of 1,700 residents can be reached. Farafenni
, with a population of more than 30,000 being the division's largest city, lies roughly 18 km outside the outer limits of BBWR to the east. Summed up, there are 25 small towns which are situated at the wetland reserve's boundaries, one among them being inside the park limits proper. The inhabitants of these towns conduct fishery
for personal requirements and their stock graze inside BBWR. Furthermore, they collect timber
and fire wood there.
The terrain is flat, the highest elevation is cited with 12 metres above mean sea level
.
Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve includes a rich fauna
and flora
within multiple ecosystemss. Important, protected tree species are pointed out by the "Ramsar Information Sheet", such as Pterocarpus erinaceus
, Parinari macrophylla, the ana tree, wild mango trees (Cordyla africana) and Néré (Parkia biglobosa
).
trees of the Senegambia region reach a height of 20 metres. The species Rhizophora racemosa, red mangrove
(Rhizophora mangle) and black mangrove
(Avicennia germinans) are widespread among them.
es, e.g. the succulent Sesuvium portulacastrum
and grasses likeSporobolus spicatus
, Paspalum vaginatum
as well as Diplachne fusca can be found. In the savanna
, which at times is flooded, Phragmites karka
, Echinochloa pyramidalis and paper reed
are very common.
, trees like Daniellia oliveri
, Terminalia albida
, Bombax costatum
and others are to be found. Among the shrubs one will encounter several species of fig
s, Physostigma thonningii, Terminalia avicennoides
, Anthostema senegalense
and Nauclea latifolia
. As of grasses, Andropogon tectorum
and Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus
), Beckeropsis uniseta and Pennisetum subangustum
are common.
.jpg)
The Gambia is frequently visited by ornithologists as more than 540 species of birds have been described there in topic literature. Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve is one of the major targets for tourists and scientists who intend to explore The Gambia's manifold avifauna
. Among the birds of BBWR, which include 268 species pf 62 families, the Ramsar Information Sheet exemplarily lists the following:
Typical for a wetland, BBWR is the habitat of many water birds
, which also include geese. Among them Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos, Spur-winged Goose
(Plectropterus gambensis), White-faced Whistling Duck
(Dendrocygna viduata), Garganey
(Anas querquedula), Northern Pintail
(Anas acuta), African Pygmy Goose
(Nettapus auritus) and the Northern Shoveler
(Anas clypeata).
The order
of Ciconiiformes
is represented by birds like Western Reef Heron
(Egretta gularis), Little Egret
(Egretta garzetta), Woolly-necked Stork
(Ciconia episcopus), Hammerkop
(Scopus umbretta), Squacco Heron
(Ardeola ralloides), Little Bittern
(Ixobrychus minutus), Goliath Heron
(Ardea goliath), Geat Egret (Egretta alba, Marabou
(Leptoptilos crumeniferus), Night Heron
(Nycticorax nycticorax), Grey Heron
(Ardea cinerea), Cattle Egret
(Bubulcus ibis) and the Sacred Ibis
(Threskiornis aethiopicus). With their long legs, this division of birds searches the river banks for food.
The brackish water
areas feature Charadriidae
. Spur-winged Lapwing (Hoplopterus spinosus), Little Stint
(Calidris minuta) and Common Sandpiper
(Actitis hypoleucos) can be found.
Among the colourful family of kingfisher
s, who preferably occur near open water, the Woodland Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher
(Ceryle rudis), Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
(Merops hirundineus), Giant Kingfisher
(Ceryle maxima), Malachite Kingfisher
(Alcedo cristata) and the Blue-breasted Kingfisher
(Halcyon malimbica) are notable.
Equally colourful are the west African examples of Starling
s. Among them, the Violet-backed Starling
(Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) and the Long-tailed Glossy-starling (Lamprotornis caudatus) can be found inside the Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve.
The Coraciiformes
include the Abyssinian Ground-hornbill
(Bucorvus abyssinicus) and the European Roller
(Coracias garrulus).
Also species of parrot
s can be found in west Africa, among them are the Senegal Parrot
(Poicephalus senegalus) and the Rose-ringed Parakeet
(Psittacula krameri).
Inevitably linked to water are also pelican
s and darter
s. The Pink-backed Pelican
(Pelecanus rufescens) and the African Darter
(Anhinga rufa) live within the BBWR.
The birds of prey include species like African Fish Eagle
(Haliaeetus vocifer), Red-necked Buzzard
(Buteo auguralis) and Black Kite
(Milvus migrans) as well as the Bateleur
(Terathopius ecaudatus).
Moreover, African Mourning Dove
s (Streptopelia decipiens) of the Streptopelia
genus and the Little Swift
(Apus affinis) from the family of Swift
s have been spotted.
, Barracuda
s (Sphyraena sp.), Polydactylus quadrifilis, Arius latiscutatus, Pseudotolithus elongatus, Pomadasys perotaei and Pseudotolithus bracygnathus. Also Tilapia
(Tilapia) and Mullets
(Mugilidae) occur in these waters.
Furthermore, a type of oyster, Crassostrea gasar and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) can be found.
The West African Manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), a mammal
, lives in the water between the mangroves and is categorized as an endagered species.
Moreover, the Nile Crocodile
(Crocodylus niloticus) is a common species of reptiles.
(Aonyx capensis), which is common to the area. Several species of Antelope
s like sitatunga
(Tragelaphus spekeii), bushbuck
(Tragelaphus scriptus) and the duiker
(Cephalophinae) as well as warthog
s (Phacochoerus africanus).
Among the predators, the Spotted Hyena
(Crocuta crocuta) is common. Also leopard
s (Panthera pardus) are attributed to the BBWR.
The primate
s, according to the "Ramsar Information Sheet", include the red colobus
(Piliocolobus), the Patas Monkey
(Erythrocebus patas) and green monkeys
(Chlorocebus). But also the Guinea Baboon
(Papio papio), marmoset
s (Callithrix) and the Senegal Bushbaby
(Galago senegalensis) can be found.
. Ecotourism
, including bird watching and common observations of nature, shall be further developed though. Next to this, boat tours through the mangroves are conducted.
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
. Established in 1996 it covers 220 square kilometres.
The Wetland Reserve is located on the north bank of the River Gambia, approximately 100 km (52 nautical miles) from the river mouth. The name is derived from the Bao Bolon tributary that rises in Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
and enters the River Gambia. It extends from the River Gambia north to the Senegalese border along the Baobolon tributary.
History
On 1 January 1993, an area of 35 km² was first declared as Bao Bolong National Reserve. From 16 September 1996 on, with an extended area of 220 km² (200 km² according to other sources), it was the first reserve in the Gambia to be acknowledged as a wetland area worth of protection according to the Ramsar ConventionRamsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
: Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve. Since 1975, this convention, whose draft had been iniated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), protects the habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
of water bird
Water bird
The term water bird or waterbird is used to refer to birds that live on or around water. Some definitions apply the term especially to birds in freshwater habitats, though others make no distinction from birds that inhabit marine environments. In addition, some water birds are more terrestrial or...
s and Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes
Charadriiformes is a diverse order of small to medium-large birds. It includes about 350 species and has members in all parts of the world. Most Charadriiformes live near water and eat invertebrates or other small animals; however, some are pelagic , some occupy deserts and a few are found in thick...
. For other nature reserves in the country, like Tanbi Wetland Complex
Tanbi Wetland Complex
Tanbi Wetland Complex is a Wetland Reserve in The Gambia outside of Banjul. Established in 2001 it covers an area of 4500 hectares.This area covers a wide area and can be seen from a spectacular view at Lamin's, Lamin lodge. Its very common for monkeys to be spotted in the overgrowth...
or Niumi National Park
Niumi National Park
Niumi National Park is a national park in The Gambia.-General information:The Niumi National Park occupies the coastal strip of The Gambia north of the river. The park is approximately 4,940 ha in extent. Apart from being an important fish breeding ground, it constitutes one of the last untouched...
(NNP), a Ramsar acknowledgement is also being aimed at by the Gambian authorities. As with NNP, it is intended to extend Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve across the border and to jointly administrate the area with Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
ese authorities.
Geography
The reserve features a length of 22 kilometres and an approximate width of nine km. The western part is located in the Central Baddibu district while the eastern part adheres to Upper Baddibu, both of which belonging to the North Bank DivisionNorth Bank Division
North Bank is one of the five administrative divisions of The Gambia. Its capital is Kerewan.-Districts:North Bank is divided into 6 districts:*Central Baddibu*Jokadu*Lower Baddibu*Lower Niumi*Upper Baddibu*Upper Niumi-See also:...
.
Chiefly, the reserve is made up of the river Bao Bolong's estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
, one of the bigger tributaries
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the river Gambia. It is located about 100 km away from the Gambia's mouth into Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
. The roughly 100 km long Bao Bolong river's spring is situated in Senegal. Furthermore, BBWR includes the rivers Salokini Bolong, Mandon Bolong, Duntu Malang Bolong, Tanku Bolong and Katchang Bolong.
The Gambia river thereby formes the southern boundayr of the protected area. Approximately two kilometres away on the opposite bank of the river, the roughly 115 km² large Kiang West National Park
Kiang West National Park
Kiang West National Park is one of the largest and most important wildlife reserves in The Gambia. It was declared a national park in 1987 and is managed by The Gambia Department of Parks and Wildlife Management.- Geography :...
is located. A some two and a half kilometres wide zone of dense mangrove
Mangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
forest adjoines to the river. To the west lies the town of Salikenne (population about 4,000), which is also located near the Dobo Forest Park of 7.32 km². At the western border, the Jalabiro Forest Park of 0.59 km² can moreover be found.
The northern edge is bordered by the north bank road, Gambia's secondmost important highway
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
. Along this road and the fork to Salikenne, several smaller towns like Nja Kunda, Minti Kunda, Kekuta Kunda, No Kunda, Konti Kunda Sukoto, Konti Kunda Nji and Illiassa are situated. In the east, following a fork of nine km length from the north bank road, the town of Katchang of 1,700 residents can be reached. Farafenni
Farafenni
Farafenni is a town in The Gambia, lying on the Trans-Gambia Highway in the North Bank Division, just south of the border with Senegal. It is an important market town....
, with a population of more than 30,000 being the division's largest city, lies roughly 18 km outside the outer limits of BBWR to the east. Summed up, there are 25 small towns which are situated at the wetland reserve's boundaries, one among them being inside the park limits proper. The inhabitants of these towns conduct fishery
Fishery
Generally, a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats,...
for personal requirements and their stock graze inside BBWR. Furthermore, they collect timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
and fire wood there.
The terrain is flat, the highest elevation is cited with 12 metres above mean sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
Ecosystems
Fauna
Fauna or faunæ is all of the animal life of any particular region or time. The corresponding term for plants is flora.Zoologists and paleontologists use fauna to refer to a typical collection of animals found in a specific time or place, e.g. the "Sonoran Desert fauna" or the "Burgess shale fauna"...
and flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
within multiple ecosystemss. Important, protected tree species are pointed out by the "Ramsar Information Sheet", such as Pterocarpus erinaceus
Pterocarpus erinaceus
The tree Pterocarpus erinaceus is native to Sahelian region of West Africa and is used for fuel wood, for medicinal purposes, as a woodworking material, and that is useful as a nitrogen-fixing plant that helps to improve nutrient-depleted farming land...
, Parinari macrophylla, the ana tree, wild mango trees (Cordyla africana) and Néré (Parkia biglobosa
Parkia biglobosa
Parkia biglobosa or Néré is a tree of the genus Parkia in the family Fabaceae. In West Africa, its fruits are fermented to a condiment called "soumbala" or "dawa-dawa"....
).
Mangroves
Only in the mangrove forest of Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve the mangroveMangrove
Mangroves are various kinds of trees up to medium height and shrubs that grow in saline coastal sediment habitats in the tropics and subtropics – mainly between latitudes N and S...
trees of the Senegambia region reach a height of 20 metres. The species Rhizophora racemosa, red mangrove
Rhizophora mangle
Rhizophora mangle, known as the red mangrove, is distributed in estuarine ecosystems throughout the tropics. Its viviparous "seeds," in actuality called propagules, become fully mature plants before dropping off the parent tree...
(Rhizophora mangle) and black mangrove
Avicennia germinans
Avicennia germinans, commonly known as the black mangrove, is a species of flowering plant in the acanthus family, Acanthaceae.A. germinans grows in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, on both Atlantic and Pacific coasts, and on the Atlantic coast of tropical Africa, where it thrives...
(Avicennia germinans) are widespread among them.
Salt marshes
In the salt marshSalt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
es, e.g. the succulent Sesuvium portulacastrum
Sesuvium portulacastrum
Sesuvium portulacastrum, commonly known as shoreline purslane or "sea purslane", is a sprawling perennial herb that grows in coastal areas throughout much of the world.-Description:...
and grasses likeSporobolus spicatus
Sporobolus
Sporobolus is a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae. They are usually called dropseed grasses or sacaton grasses. They are typical prairie and savanna plants, and they occur in other types of open habitat in warmer climates....
, Paspalum vaginatum
Paspalum
Paspalum is a genus of the grass family . Commonly known as paspalums, bahiagrasses or dallis grasses most are tall perennial American grasses. They are most diverse in subtropical and tropical regions....
as well as Diplachne fusca can be found. In the savanna
Flooded grasslands and savannas
Flooded grasslands and savannas is a terrestrial biome. Its component ecoregions are generally located at subtropical and tropical latitudes, which are flooded seasonally or year-round...
, which at times is flooded, Phragmites karka
Phragmites
Phragmites, the Common reed, is a large perennial grass found in wetlands throughout temperate and tropical regions of the world. Phragmites australis is sometimes regarded as the sole species of the genus Phragmites, though some botanists divide Phragmites australis into three or four species...
, Echinochloa pyramidalis and paper reed
Cyperus papyrus
Cyperus papyrus is a monocot belonging to the sedge family Cyperaceae. It is a herbaceous perennial native to Africa, and forms tall stands of reed-like swamp vegetation in shallow water....
are very common.
Savanna
In the SavannaSavanna
A savanna, or savannah, is a grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken herbaceous layer consisting primarily of C4 grasses.Some...
, trees like Daniellia oliveri
Daniellia
Daniellia is a genus of legume in the Fabaceae family, named after William Freeman Daniell.It contains the following species:* Daniellia klainei* Daniellia oblonga* Daniellia ogea* Daniellia oliveri...
, Terminalia albida
Terminalia (plant)
Terminalia is a genus of large trees of the flowering plant family Combretaceae, comprising around 100 species distributed in tropical regions of the world. This genus gets it name from Latin terminus, referring to the fact that the leaves appear at the very tips of the shoots.Trees of this genus...
, Bombax costatum
Bombax
Bombax is a genus of mainly tropical trees in the mallow family. They are native to western Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, as well as sub-tropical regions of East Asia and northern Australia. Common names for the genus include Silk Cotton Tree, Simal, Red Cotton Tree, Kapok and...
and others are to be found. Among the shrubs one will encounter several species of fig
Ficus
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...
s, Physostigma thonningii, Terminalia avicennoides
Terminalia (plant)
Terminalia is a genus of large trees of the flowering plant family Combretaceae, comprising around 100 species distributed in tropical regions of the world. This genus gets it name from Latin terminus, referring to the fact that the leaves appear at the very tips of the shoots.Trees of this genus...
, Anthostema senegalense
Anthostema
Anthostema is a flowering plant genus in the Family Euphorbiaceae . The genus includes only three species, native to Africa and Madagascar....
and Nauclea latifolia
Nauclea
Nauclea is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. The species are evergreen trees or shrubs that are native to the paleotropics. The terminal vegetative buds are usually strongly flattened. The generic name is derived from the Ancient Greek words naus, meaning "ship" and kleio,...
. As of grasses, Andropogon tectorum
Andropogon
Andropogon is a genus of grasses. Andropogon gerardii, big bluestem, is the official state grass of Illinois.Broomsedge is found along the eastern United States...
and Gamba grass (Andropogon gayanus
Andropogon
Andropogon is a genus of grasses. Andropogon gerardii, big bluestem, is the official state grass of Illinois.Broomsedge is found along the eastern United States...
), Beckeropsis uniseta and Pennisetum subangustum
Pennisetum
Pennisetum is a genus of grasses in the family Poaceae, native to tropical and warm temperate regions of the world. They are large annual or perennial grasses growing 1–4 m tall, and are collectively known as the pennisetums...
are common.
Avifauna
Bird
Birds are feathered, winged, bipedal, endothermic , egg-laying, vertebrate animals. Around 10,000 living species and 188 families makes them the most speciose class of tetrapod vertebrates. They inhabit ecosystems across the globe, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. Extant birds range in size from...
. Among the birds of BBWR, which include 268 species pf 62 families, the Ramsar Information Sheet exemplarily lists the following:
Typical for a wetland, BBWR is the habitat of many water birds
Anatidae
Anatidae is the biological family of birds that includes ducks, geese and swans. The family has a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on all the world's continents except Antarctica and on most of the world's islands and island groups...
, which also include geese. Among them Comb Duck (Sarkidiornis melanotos, Spur-winged Goose
Spur-winged Goose
The Spur-winged Goose is a large bird in the family Anatidae, related to the geese and the shelducks, but distinct from both of these in a number of anatomical features, and therefore treated in its own subfamily, the Plectropterinae...
(Plectropterus gambensis), White-faced Whistling Duck
White-faced Whistling Duck
The White-faced Whistling Duck, Dendrocygna viduata, is a whistling duck which breeds in sub-Saharan Africa and much of South America.This species is gregarious, and at favoured sites, the flocks of a thousand or more birds arriving at dawn are an impressive sight...
(Dendrocygna viduata), Garganey
Garganey
The Garganey is a small dabbling duck. It breeds in much of Europe and western Asia, but is strictly migratory, with the entire population moving to southern Africa, India Santragachi and Australasia in winter, where large flocks can occur. This species was first described by Linnaeus in 1758...
(Anas querquedula), Northern Pintail
Northern Pintail
The Pintail or Northern Pintail is a widely occurring duck which breeds in the northern areas of Europe, Asia and North America. It is strongly migratory and winters south of its breeding range to the equator...
(Anas acuta), African Pygmy Goose
African Pygmy Goose
The African Pygmy Goose is a very small perching duck from sub-Saharan Africa. It has been featured in many Vietnamese pornographic films. It is the smallest African waterfowl. It is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds applies....
(Nettapus auritus) and the Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler
The Northern Shoveler , Northern Shoveller in British English, sometimes known simply as the Shoveler, is a common and widespread duck. It breeds in northern areas of Europe and Asia and across most of North America, and is a rare vagrant to Australia...
(Anas clypeata).
The order
Order (biology)
In scientific classification used in biology, the order is# a taxonomic rank used in the classification of organisms. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, family, genus, and species, with order fitting in between class and family...
of Ciconiiformes
Ciconiiformes
Traditionally, the order Ciconiiformes has included a variety of large, long-legged wading birds with large bills: storks, herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, and several others. Ciconiiformes are known from the Late Eocene...
is represented by birds like Western Reef Heron
Western Reef Heron
The Western Reef Heron, Egretta gularis, also known as the Western Reef Egret, is a medium-sized heron. It occurs mainly on the coasts in tropical west Africa, the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf and east to India...
(Egretta gularis), Little Egret
Little Egret
The Little Egret is a small white heron. It is the Old World counterpart to the very similar New World Snowy Egret.-Subspecies:Depending on authority, two or three subspecies of Little Egret are currently accepted....
(Egretta garzetta), Woolly-necked Stork
Woolly-necked Stork
The Woolly-necked Stork or White necked stork , Ciconia episcopus, is a large wading bird in the stork family Ciconiidae. It can also be known as the Espiscopos....
(Ciconia episcopus), Hammerkop
Hammerkop
The Hamerkop , also known as Hammerkop,Hammerkopf, Hammerhead, Hammerhead Stork, Umbrette, Umber Bird, Tufted Umber, or Anvilhead, is a medium-sized wading bird...
(Scopus umbretta), Squacco Heron
Squacco Heron
The Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides, is a small heron, long, of which the body is , with wingspan. It is of Old World origins, breeding in southern Europe and the Greater Middle East.-Behaviour:...
(Ardeola ralloides), Little Bittern
Little Bittern
The Little Bittern is a wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae, native to the Old World, breeding in Africa, central and southern Europe, western and southern Asia, and Madagascar. Birds from temperate regions in Europe and western Asia are migratory, wintering in Africa and further south in...
(Ixobrychus minutus), Goliath Heron
Goliath Heron
The Goliath Heron is a very large wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae. It is found in sub-Saharan Africa, with smaller numbers in Southwest and South Asia.-Description:This is the world's largest heron...
(Ardea goliath), Geat Egret (Egretta alba, Marabou
Marabou
Marabou can refer to:* Marabou Stork, a large bird in the stork family Ciconiidae* Marabou , a Swedish chocolate brand* Marabou , a historical term for a multiracial person in Haiti...
(Leptoptilos crumeniferus), Night Heron
Night heron
The night herons are medium-sized herons in the genera Nycticorax, Nyctanassa and Gorsachius. The genus name Nycticorax derives from the Greek for “night raven” and refers to the largely nocturnal feeding habits of this group of birds, and the croaking crow-like call of the best known species, the...
(Nycticorax nycticorax), Grey Heron
Grey Heron
The Grey Heron , is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions...
(Ardea cinerea), Cattle Egret
Cattle Egret
The Cattle Egret is a cosmopolitan species of heron found in the tropics, subtropics and warm temperate zones. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Bubulcus, although some authorities regard its two subspecies as full species, the Western Cattle Egret and the Eastern Cattle Egret...
(Bubulcus ibis) and the Sacred Ibis
Sacred Ibis
The African Sacred Ibis is a species of ibis.-Description:An adult individual is 68 cm long with all-white body plumage apart from dark plumes on the rump. The bald head and neck, thick curved bill and legs are black. The white wings show a black rear border in flight...
(Threskiornis aethiopicus). With their long legs, this division of birds searches the river banks for food.
The brackish water
Brackish water
Brackish water is water that has more salinity than fresh water, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing of seawater with fresh water, as in estuaries, or it may occur in brackish fossil aquifers. The word comes from the Middle Dutch root "brak," meaning "salty"...
areas feature Charadriidae
Charadriidae
The bird family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings, about 64 to 66 species in all.- Morphology :They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short, thick necks and long, usually pointed, wings, but most species of lapwing may have more rounded wings...
. Spur-winged Lapwing (Hoplopterus spinosus), Little Stint
Little Stint
The Little Stint, Calidris minuta , is a very small wader. It breeds in arctic Europe and Asia, and is a long-distance migrant, wintering south to Africa and south Asia...
(Calidris minuta) and Common Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
The Common Sandpiper is a small Palearctic wader. This bird and its American sister species, the Spotted Sandpiper , make up the genus Actitis. They are parapatric and replace each other geographically; stray birds of either species may settle down with breeders of the other and hybridize...
(Actitis hypoleucos) can be found.
Among the colourful family of kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfishers are a group of small to medium sized brightly coloured birds in the order Coraciiformes. They have a cosmopolitan distribution, with most species being found in the Old World and Australia...
s, who preferably occur near open water, the Woodland Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
The Pied Kingfisher is a water kingfisher and is found widely distributed across Africa and Asia. Their black and white plumage, crest and the habit of hovering over clear lakes and rivers before diving for fish makes it distinctive. Males have a double band across the breast while females have a...
(Ceryle rudis), Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater
The Swallow-tailed Bee-eater is a near passerine bird in the bee-eater family Meropidae. It breeds in savannah woodlands of sub-Saharan Africa. It is partially migratory, moving in response to rainfall patterns....
(Merops hirundineus), Giant Kingfisher
Giant Kingfisher
The Giant Kingfisher is the largest kingfisher in Africa, where it is a resident breeding bird over most of the continent south of the Sahara Desert other than the arid southwest....
(Ceryle maxima), Malachite Kingfisher
Malachite Kingfisher
The Malachite Kingfisher is a river kingfisher which is widely distributed in Africa south of the Sahara. It is largely resident except for seasonal climate related movements....
(Alcedo cristata) and the Blue-breasted Kingfisher
Blue-breasted Kingfisher
The Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Halcyon malimbica, is a tree kingfisher which is widely distributed in tropical west Africa. This kingfisher is essentially resident, but retreats from drier savanna areas to wetter habitats in the dry season....
(Halcyon malimbica) are notable.
Equally colourful are the west African examples of Starling
Starling
Starlings are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Sturnidae. The name "Sturnidae" comes from the Latin word for starling, sturnus. Many Asian species, particularly the larger ones, are called mynas, and many African species are known as glossy starlings because of their iridescent...
s. Among them, the Violet-backed Starling
Violet-backed Starling
The Violet-backed Starling , also known as the Plum-coloured Starling or Amethyst Starling, is a relatively small species of starling in the Sturnidae family. This strongly sexually dimorphic species is found widely in woodland of mainland sub-Saharan Africa.-References:* BirdLife International 2004....
(Cinnyricinclus leucogaster) and the Long-tailed Glossy-starling (Lamprotornis caudatus) can be found inside the Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve.
The Coraciiformes
Coraciiformes
The Coraciiformes are a group of usually colorful near passerine birds including the kingfishers, the Hoopoe, the bee-eaters, the rollers, and the hornbills...
include the Abyssinian Ground-hornbill
Abyssinian Ground-hornbill
The Abyssinian Ground Hornbill or Northern Ground Hornbill, Bucorvus abyssinicus, is one of two species of ground hornbill. The other is the Southern Ground Hornbill....
(Bucorvus abyssinicus) and the European Roller
European Roller
The European Roller, Coracias garrulus, is the only member of the roller family of birds to breed in Europe. Its overall range extends into the Middle East and Central Asia and Morocco....
(Coracias garrulus).
Also species of parrot
Parrot
Parrots, also known as psittacines , are birds of the roughly 372 species in 86 genera that make up the order Psittaciformes, found in most tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three families: the Psittacidae , the Cacatuidae and the Strigopidae...
s can be found in west Africa, among them are the Senegal Parrot
Senegal Parrot
The Senegal Parrot is a Poicephalus parrot which is a resident breeder across a wide range of west Africa. It makes migrations within west Africa, according to the availability of the fruit, seeds and blossoms which make up its diet. It is considered a farm pest in Africa, often feeding on...
(Poicephalus senegalus) and the Rose-ringed Parakeet
Rose-ringed Parakeet
The Rose-ringed Parakeet , also known as the Ringnecked Parakeet, is a gregarious tropical parakeet species that has an extremely large range. Since the trend of the population appears to be increasing, the species has been evaluated as Least Concern by IUCN in 2009.Rose-ringed parakeets are...
(Psittacula krameri).
Inevitably linked to water are also pelican
Pelican
A pelican, derived from the Greek word πελεκυς pelekys is a large water bird with a large throat pouch, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae....
s and darter
Darter
The darters or snakebirds are mainly tropical waterbirds in the family Anhingidae. There are four living species, three of which are very common and widespread while the fourth is rarer and classified as near-threatened by the IUCN. The term "snakebird" is usually used without any additions to...
s. The Pink-backed Pelican
Pink-backed Pelican
The Pink-backed Pelican is a member of the pelican family of birds. It is a resident breeder in Africa, southern Arabia and apparently extinct in Madagascar in swamps and shallow lakes.-Description:...
(Pelecanus rufescens) and the African Darter
African Darter
The African Darter , sometimes called the Snakebird, is a water bird of sub-Saharan Africa.-Taxonomy:The African Darter is a member of the darter family, Anhingidae, and is closely related to American , Oriental , and Australian Darters.-Description:The male is mainly glossy...
(Anhinga rufa) live within the BBWR.
The birds of prey include species like African Fish Eagle
African Fish Eagle
The African Fish Eagle or – to distinguish it from the true fish eagles , the African Sea Eagle – is a large species of eagle that is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa wherever large bodies of open water occur that have an abundant food supply. As a result of its large range, it is known in many...
(Haliaeetus vocifer), Red-necked Buzzard
Red-necked Buzzard
The Red-necked Buzzard is a species of bird of prey in the Accipitridae family.It is found in Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea,...
(Buteo auguralis) and Black Kite
Black Kite
The Black Kite is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors. Unlike others of the group, they are opportunistic hunters and are more likely to scavenge. They spend a lot of time soaring and gliding in thermals in search of food. Their...
(Milvus migrans) as well as the Bateleur
Bateleur
The Bateleur is a medium-sized eagle in the bird family Accipitridae which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as buzzards, kites and harriers...
(Terathopius ecaudatus).
Moreover, African Mourning Dove
African Mourning Dove
The Mourning Collared Dove is a pigeon which is a widespread resident breeding bird in Africa south of the Sahara. Despite its name, it is not a close relative of the North American Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura. This species is common or abundant near water...
s (Streptopelia decipiens) of the Streptopelia
Streptopelia
Streptopelia is a genus of birds in the dove family. These are mainly slim, small to medium-sized species. The upperparts tend to be pale brown, and the underparts are often a shade of pink. Many have a characteristic black-and-white patch on the neck, and monotonous cooing songs.The heartland of...
genus and the Little Swift
Little Swift
The Little Swift , is a small bird, superficially similar to a Barn Swallow or House Martin. It is, however, completely unrelated to those passerine species, since swifts are in the order Apodiformes. The resemblances between the groups are due to convergent evolution reflecting similar life styles...
(Apus affinis) from the family of Swift
Swift
The swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are actually not closely related to passerine species at all; swifts are in the separate order Apodiformes, which they share with hummingbirds...
s have been spotted.
Fish and other water animals
Among BBWR's ichthyofauna, some fish are noted in the "Ramsar Information Sheet": Ethmalosa fimbriataEthmalosa fimbriata
Ethmalosa fimbriata, the Bonga shad, is a shad that occurs along the coasts and in lagoons, rivers and lakes of western Africa. It is the only member of its genus....
, Barracuda
Barracuda
The barracuda is a ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance. Its body is long, fairly compressed, and covered with small, smooth scales. Some species could reach up to 1.8m in length and 30 cm in width...
s (Sphyraena sp.), Polydactylus quadrifilis, Arius latiscutatus, Pseudotolithus elongatus, Pomadasys perotaei and Pseudotolithus bracygnathus. Also Tilapia
Tilapia
Tilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...
(Tilapia) and Mullets
Mullet (fish)
The mullets or grey mullets are a family and order of ray-finned fish found worldwide in coastal temperate and tropical waters, and in some species in fresh water. Mullets have served as an important source of food in Mediterranean Europe since Roman times...
(Mugilidae) occur in these waters.
Furthermore, a type of oyster, Crassostrea gasar and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) can be found.
The West African Manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), a mammal
Mammal
Mammals are members of a class of air-breathing vertebrate animals characterised by the possession of endothermy, hair, three middle ear bones, and mammary glands functional in mothers with young...
, lives in the water between the mangroves and is categorized as an endagered species.
Moreover, the Nile Crocodile
Nile crocodile
The Nile crocodile or Common crocodile is an African crocodile which is common in Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Gabon, South Africa, Malawi, Sudan, Botswana, and Cameroon...
(Crocodylus niloticus) is a common species of reptiles.
Mammals
Thirty-two species of mammals are known, the "Ramsar Information Sheet" lists the African Clawless OtterAfrican Clawless Otter
The African clawless otter , also known as the cape clawless otter or groot otter, is the second largest freshwater species of otter. African clawless otters are found near permanent bodies of water in savannah and lowland forest areas...
(Aonyx capensis), which is common to the area. Several species of Antelope
Antelope
Antelope is a term referring to many even-toed ungulate species indigenous to various regions in Africa and Eurasia. Antelopes comprise a miscellaneous group within the family Bovidae, encompassing those old-world species that are neither cattle, sheep, buffalo, bison, nor goats...
s like sitatunga
Sitatunga
The situtunga or marshbuck is a swamp-dwelling antelope found throughout Central Africa, centering on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon and parts of Southern Sudan as well as in Ghana, Botswana, Zambia, Gabon, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.-Description:Situtunga stand about one and a...
(Tragelaphus spekeii), bushbuck
Bushbuck
The bushbuck is the most widespread antelope in Sub-Saharan Africa, and is found in rain forests, montane forests, forest-savanna mosaics and bush savannaforest and woodland. Recently, genetic studies have shown that the bushbuck, is in fact a complex of two geographically and phenotypically...
(Tragelaphus scriptus) and the duiker
Duiker
A duiker is any of about 21 small to medium-sized antelope species from the subfamily Cephalophinae native to Sub-Saharan Africa.Duikers are shy and elusive creatures with a fondness for dense cover; most are forest dwellers and even the species living in more open areas are quick to disappear...
(Cephalophinae) as well as warthog
Warthog
The Warthog or Common Warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the past it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P...
s (Phacochoerus africanus).
Among the predators, the Spotted Hyena
Spotted Hyena
The spotted hyena also known as laughing hyena, is a carnivorous mammal of the family Hyaenidae, of which it is the largest extant member. Though the species' prehistoric range included Eurasia extending from Atlantic Europe to China, it now only occurs in all of Africa south of the Sahara save...
(Crocuta crocuta) is common. Also leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
s (Panthera pardus) are attributed to the BBWR.
The primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
s, according to the "Ramsar Information Sheet", include the red colobus
Red colobus
Red colobuses are Old World monkeys of the subgenus Piliocolobus in genus Procolobus. Some authors elevate Piliocolobus to a full genus, limiting Procolobus to the olive colobus. They are closely related to the black-and-white colobus monkeys and some species are often found in groups with the...
(Piliocolobus), the Patas Monkey
Patas Monkey
The patas monkey , also known as the Wadi monkey or Hussar monkey, is a ground-dwelling monkey distributed over semi-arid areas of West Africa, and into East Africa. It is the only species classified in the genus Erythrocebus...
(Erythrocebus patas) and green monkeys
Chlorocebus
Chlorocebus is a genus of medium-sized primates from the family of Old World monkeys. There are six species currently recognized, although some classify them all as a single species with numerous subspecies...
(Chlorocebus). But also the Guinea Baboon
Guinea Baboon
The Guinea baboon is a baboon from the Old World monkey family. Some classifications list only two species in the genus Papio, this one and the Hamadryas baboon. In those classifications, all other Papio species are considered subspecies of P...
(Papio papio), marmoset
Marmoset
Marmosets are the 22 New World monkey species of the genera Callithrix, Cebuella, Callibella, and Mico. All four genera are part of the biological family Callitrichidae. The term marmoset is also used in reference to the Goeldi's Monkey, Callimico goeldii, which is closely related.Most marmosets...
s (Callithrix) and the Senegal Bushbaby
Senegal Bushbaby
The Senegal bushbaby , also known as the Senegal galago, the lesser galago or the lesser bush baby, is a small, nocturnal primate, a member of the galago family Galagidae....
(Galago senegalensis) can be found.
Tourism
The area is only moderately used for tourismTourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
. Ecotourism
Ecotourism
Ecotourism is a form of tourism visiting fragile, pristine, and usually protected areas, intended as a low impact and often small scale alternative to standard commercial tourism...
, including bird watching and common observations of nature, shall be further developed though. Next to this, boat tours through the mangroves are conducted.
Further reading
- Emms, Craig; Linda Barnett, Richard Human. The Gambia, 2nd: The Bradt Travel Guide (Bradt Travel Guide). Bradt Travel Guides, 2006, ISBN 1-84162-137-4
- Cartes ITM: Gambia Map, Estate Publications, 2003, ISBN 155341217-6
External links
- The Annotated Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance: Baobolon Wetland Reserve
- Description by BirdLife InternationalBirdLife InternationalBirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
- Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve
- Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve by Momodou Camara
- Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve