Nigerian Conservation Education

The Omo Forest Reserve within Ogun state, Nigeria is of great conservation value with 200 species of tree, 125 species of bird and many mammal species including forest elephant, chimpanzee and white-throated guenon monkeys, all of which are seriously endangered.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park and the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust support conservation in the Omo Forest by providing funding for two educators and a ranger as part of the Omo – Shasha – Oluwa Forest Project. The educators visit all the primary schools within the area and teach the children about the importance of the forest and environmental issues. They also run a conservation club that raises awareness amongst the local community. The ranger keeps the forest camp clear and acts as a guide to visitors and researchers.

Niyi Amos, Ademola Lawal (educators) and Titus Onyewie (ranger)

Paignton Zoo’s partners in the Omo – Shasha – Oluwa Conservation Project are Pro-Natura International (Nigeria) and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation. Please see http://forestelephants.wordpress.com/author/osoforestelephant to keep up with the latest developments.

The Zoo has teamed up with Size of Wales to support this project. Size of Wales is an initiative to encourage people to help protect an area of tropical forest the same size as Wales (2 million hectares) as part of a national response to climate change. The Size of Wales will match all the funds raised by the Zoo for the Nigeria project so the Omo – Shasha – Oluwa Forest Project will benefit twice as much from your donations. See www.sizeofwales.org.uk for more details.