Bénoué National Park
Encyclopedia
Bénoué National Park is a national park of Cameroon
and a UNESCO
designated Biosphere Reserve. It is in size. The park has a wide frontage to the Bénoué River
, which stretches for over 100 km (62.1 mi), forming the eastern boundary. The public road to Tcholliré
cuts across the northern part of the park. The western boundary is made up of the main road linking the towns of Garoua
to the north, with Ngaoundéré
to the south. The park can be accessed coming north from Ngaoundéré.
. It lies in the Bénoué savanna belt, a humid savannah woodland area between the cities of Garoua in the north and Ngaoundéré to the south. The main river is the Bénoué River
,which stretches for over 100 km (62.1 mi), forming the eastern boundary. The park's altitude ranges from 250 m (820.2 ft) to 760 m (2,493.4 ft) above sea level
.The higher elevations are characterized by large rocky massifs, while the undulating plain and forest characterizes the lower sections. Eight hunting reserves, totaling , surround the park except along the main road.
-dominated and other woodland in the south-centre, to shorter, more open, mixed wooded grassland in the north), dry Anogeissus forest, semi-evergreen riparian forest and thickets along the Bénoué and its major affluents.
There is a small population of about 30 lions, which belong to the endangered West African lion
population. Elephants, Spotted Hyena
, water buck, warthog, monkeys are also found in the park. The predominant large ungulates in the park are antelope
such as the kob
, Western hartebeest
, Lord Derby’s eland
and waterbuck
, as well as buffalo
. The only place in Africa where there is a realistic change to view the Derby eland
, Africa's largest antelope, is within Bénoué National Park. The African wild dog
is present within the national park, though less common here than in Faro National Park
. Bénoué National Park is known for its hippopotamus
colonies. Along with hippo, crocodile
are common in the rivers.
Bénoué National Park is an Important Bird Area
(#CM007) with recent surveys identifying 306 species. In the dry season, sandbars exposed by fluctuating levels of the sandy Bénoué River provide habitat for plover
and other waterbirds. Common species include Adamawa Turtle-dove
, Crocodile bird
, Grey-headed Quail-dove
, Olive-backed Quail-dove
, Red-throated Bee-eater
, Red-winged Grey Warbler
, Stone Partridge
, and Violet Turaco
.
, stealing meat from a lion kill, was documented at Bénoué National Park.
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
and a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
designated Biosphere Reserve. It is in size. The park has a wide frontage to the Bénoué River
Benue River
The Benue River is the major tributary of the Niger River. The river is approximately 1,400 km long and is almost entirely navigable during the summer months...
, which stretches for over 100 km (62.1 mi), forming the eastern boundary. The public road to Tcholliré
Tcholliré
-References:* * - Thèse de Donation Avele, Université Montesquieu Bordeaux IV * Charles Nanga, , Mémoire ENA....
cuts across the northern part of the park. The western boundary is made up of the main road linking the towns of Garoua
Garoua
Garoua is the capital of the North Province of Cameroon, lying on the Benue River. The city had 235,996 inhabitants at the 2005 Census, and is an important river port.- Overview :...
to the north, with Ngaoundéré
Ngaoundéré
Ngaoundéré or N'Gaoundéré is the capital of the Adamawa Region of Cameroon. It had a population of 152,698 . It lies at the northern end of the railway to Yaoundé and is also home to an airport. The current city was founded in approximately 1835 by the Fulani leader Ardo Njobdi, although the...
to the south. The park can be accessed coming north from Ngaoundéré.
History
In 1932, the area was established as a Faunal Reserve. It was upgraded to a National Park in 1968, and in 1981, it became a Biosphere Reserve.Geography
The National Park is located in the northeastern part of Cameroon in the Bénoué DepartmentBénoué
Bénoué is a department of North Province in Cameroon. The department covers an area of 13,614 km² and as of 2001 had a total population of 568,793...
. It lies in the Bénoué savanna belt, a humid savannah woodland area between the cities of Garoua in the north and Ngaoundéré to the south. The main river is the Bénoué River
Benue River
The Benue River is the major tributary of the Niger River. The river is approximately 1,400 km long and is almost entirely navigable during the summer months...
,which stretches for over 100 km (62.1 mi), forming the eastern boundary. The park's altitude ranges from 250 m (820.2 ft) to 760 m (2,493.4 ft) above sea level
Above mean sea level
The term above mean sea level refers to the elevation or altitude of any object, relative to the average sea level datum. AMSL is used extensively in radio by engineers to determine the coverage area a station will be able to reach...
.The higher elevations are characterized by large rocky massifs, while the undulating plain and forest characterizes the lower sections. Eight hunting reserves, totaling , surround the park except along the main road.
Flora and fauna
The habitat in Bénoué National Park is characterized by wooded grassland. It includes several types of Sudanian woodland such as IsoberliniaIsoberlinia
Isoberlinia is a genus in the family Fabaceae of five species of tree native to the hotter parts of tropical Africa. They are an important component of miombo woodlands...
-dominated and other woodland in the south-centre, to shorter, more open, mixed wooded grassland in the north), dry Anogeissus forest, semi-evergreen riparian forest and thickets along the Bénoué and its major affluents.
There is a small population of about 30 lions, which belong to the endangered West African lion
West African lion
The West African lion is a subspecies of the lion, native to western Africa. Recent genetic research indicates, that the Western and Central African lions form a different clade of lions and are perhaps more related to Asian lions than to lions from southern or eastern Africa...
population. Elephants, 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...
, water buck, warthog, monkeys are also found in the park. The predominant large ungulates in the park are 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...
such as the kob
Kob
The Kob is an antelope found across Sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to South Sudan. Found along the Northern Savanna, often seen in Murchison Falls and Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda; Garamba and Virunga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as grassy floodplains of...
, Western hartebeest
Western Hartebeest
The Western Hartebeest is an antelope native to the medium to tall grassland plains of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo. It is possibly extirpated from Gambia.Average adult Western...
, Lord Derby’s eland
Giant Eland
The giant eland is an open forest savannah antelope. It is found in Central African Republic, South Sudan, Cameroon and Senegal. There are two subspecies: the endangered T. d. derbianus, found in Senegal's Niokolo-Koba National Park, and the low risk T. d...
and waterbuck
Waterbuck
The Waterbuck is a large antelope found widely in Sub-Saharan Africa.Waterbuck stand at the shoulder. Males weigh and females . Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they have a white 'bib' under their throats and white on their rumps...
, as well as buffalo
African Buffalo
The African buffalo, affalo, nyati, Mbogo or Cape buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear...
. The only place in Africa where there is a realistic change to view the Derby eland
Giant Eland
The giant eland is an open forest savannah antelope. It is found in Central African Republic, South Sudan, Cameroon and Senegal. There are two subspecies: the endangered T. d. derbianus, found in Senegal's Niokolo-Koba National Park, and the low risk T. d...
, Africa's largest antelope, is within Bénoué National Park. The African wild dog
African Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus is a large canid found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas. It is variously called the African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf...
is present within the national park, though less common here than in Faro National Park
Faro National Park
Faro National Park is a national park in Cameroon's North Province. It covers an area of and is close to the Nigerian border, surrounded on the eastern side by several hunting reserves. It is home to cheetahs, black rhinoceros, elephants, and is known for its colonies of hippopotamuses....
. Bénoué National Park is known for its hippopotamus
Hippopotamus
The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
colonies. Along with hippo, crocodile
Crocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
are common in the rivers.
Bénoué National Park is an Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
(#CM007) with recent surveys identifying 306 species. In the dry season, sandbars exposed by fluctuating levels of the sandy Bénoué River provide habitat for plover
Plover
Plovers are a widely distributed group of wading birds belonging to the subfamily Charadriinae. There are about 40 species in the subfamily, most of them called "plover" or "dotterel". The closely related lapwing subfamily, Vanellinae, comprises another 20-odd species.Plovers are found throughout...
and other waterbirds. Common species include Adamawa Turtle-dove
Adamawa Turtle-dove
The Adamawa Turtle Dove is a species of bird in the Columbidae family.It is found in Cameroon, Chad, Gambia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo....
, Crocodile bird
Egyptian Plover
The Egyptian Plover is a wader, the only member of the genus Pluvianus. Formerly placed in the pratincole and courser family, Glareolidae, it is now regarded as the sole member of its own monotypic family Pluvianidae....
, Grey-headed Quail-dove
Grey-headed Quail-dove
The Grey-fronted Quail-Dove , is a species of bird in the Columbidae family.It is found on the island of Cuba.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, and plantations...
, Olive-backed Quail-dove
Olive-backed Quail-dove
The Olive-backed Quail-Dove is a species of bird in the Columbidae family.It is found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panama. Its natural habitat is lowland tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests....
, Red-throated Bee-eater
Red-throated Bee-eater
The Red-throated Bee-eater is a species of bird in the Meropidae family.This species has a large range, and is found in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania,...
, Red-winged Grey Warbler
Red-winged Grey Warbler
The Red-winged Grey Warbler is a species of bird in the Cisticolidae family. It is monotypic within the genus Drymocichla.It is found in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, and Uganda....
, Stone Partridge
Stone Partridge
The Stone Partridge, Ptilopachus petrosus, is a bird of the pheasant family. This largely brown bird, which commonly holds its tail raised, is found in scrubland and lightly wooded habitats, often near rocks, from Kenya and Ethiopia to Gambia...
, and Violet Turaco
Violet Turaco
The Violet Turaco is a large turaco, a group of African near-passerines. It is a resident breeder in the forests of tropical west Africa. It lays two eggs in a tree platform nest....
.
Population
The majority of the population within the park is nomadic. There is a loose social structure that park guards and conservationists deal with, taking on roles such as community educators and arbitrators. At least one incident of kleptoparasitismKleptoparasitism
Kleptoparasitism or cleptoparasitism is a form of feeding in which one animal takes prey or other food from another that has caught, collected, or otherwise prepared the food, including stored food...
, stealing meat from a lion kill, was documented at Bénoué National Park.
Further reading
- Mayakaa, Theodore B. Wildlife Co-Management in the Benoue National Park-Complex, Cameroon: A Bumpy Road to Institutional Development, Elsevier, World Development, Volume 30, Nummer 11, 2002, Seiten 2001 – 2016 (16).
- Mayakaa, Theodore B.; Stigter, Johannes D.; Heitkönig, Ignas M.A.; & Prins, Herbert H.T. A population dynamics model for the management of Buffon’s kob (Kobus kob kob) in the Bénoué National Park Complex, Cameroon, 2001.
- Stark, M. A. "Relationship between fire and basal scarring on Afzelia africana in Benoue National Park", Cameroon African Journal of Ecology, Volume 24 Issue 4, Seiten 263 – 271.