Comoé National Park
Encyclopedia
Comoé National Park is a national park in north eastern Côte d'Ivoire
as well as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
since its inscription in 1983. It is in the Ivoirian Zanzan Region
between the towns of Kong
to the west of both the park and the Comoé River, and Bouna to the east of the park, and just west of the Black Volta
that forms the border, in that area, between Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso
. The park was initially added as a World Heritage Site due to the diversity of plant life present around the Comoé River, including pristine patches of tropical rain forest that are usually only found further south. As a well-eroded plain between two large rivers, the land in the area is home to soils and a moisture regime suitable to a richer biodiversity than surrounding areas. In 2003 it was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger due to poaching
, over-grazing of the park by cattle, and absence of management.
The floodplains around the River Comoé in Comoé National Park create seasonal grasslands that are the feeding grounds of a population of Hippopotamus amphibius. In addition, all three extant species of African crocodiles, Crocodylus niloticus, Mecistpos cataphractus, and Osteolaemus tetraspis, call parts of the park home, and migratory birds use the seasonal wetlands.
Côte d'Ivoire
The Republic of Côte d'Ivoire or Ivory Coast is a country in West Africa. It has an area of , and borders the countries Liberia, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso and Ghana; its southern boundary is along the Gulf of Guinea. The country's population was 15,366,672 in 1998 and was estimated to be...
as well as a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
since its inscription in 1983. It is in the Ivoirian Zanzan Region
Zanzan
Zanzan is one of the 19 regions of Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa. The region's capital is Bondoukou. Covering 38,000 km², its population is 839,000.The region is divided into three departments: Bondoukou, Bouna, and Tanda....
between the towns of Kong
Kong, Côte d'Ivoire
Kong is a town and commune in the Ferkessédougou Department, in the Savanes Region of northern Côte d'Ivoire. It was the capital of the Kong Empire .-Natural history:...
to the west of both the park and the Comoé River, and Bouna to the east of the park, and just west of the Black Volta
Black Volta
Black Volta or Mouhoun is a river of western Africa rising in western Burkina Faso and flowing about 1,352 km to the White Volta in Ghana. The Black Volta forms a small part of the boundary between Ghana and Ivory Coast, and also a section of border between Ghana and Burkina Faso.-See also:*Deux...
that forms the border, in that area, between Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso
Burkina Faso – also known by its short-form name Burkina – is a landlocked country in west Africa. It is surrounded by six countries: Mali to the north, Niger to the east, Benin to the southeast, Togo and Ghana to the south, and Côte d'Ivoire to the southwest.Its size is with an estimated...
. The park was initially added as a World Heritage Site due to the diversity of plant life present around the Comoé River, including pristine patches of tropical rain forest that are usually only found further south. As a well-eroded plain between two large rivers, the land in the area is home to soils and a moisture regime suitable to a richer biodiversity than surrounding areas. In 2003 it was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger due to poaching
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
, over-grazing of the park by cattle, and absence of management.
The floodplains around the River Comoé in Comoé National Park create seasonal grasslands that are the feeding grounds of a population of Hippopotamus amphibius. In addition, all three extant species of African crocodiles, Crocodylus niloticus, Mecistpos cataphractus, and Osteolaemus tetraspis, call parts of the park home, and migratory birds use the seasonal wetlands.