W National Park in Niger—A Case for Urgent Assistance

John Grettenberger

W National Park is shared by Niger, and infertile with a high iron content, particularly Upper Volta and Benin, and is recog- in the upland areas in the interior. Depressions nised as being one of the most important and stream valleys tend to have deeper, more fertile soils while extensive rock outcroppings are parks in West Africa by virtue of its size— found along the Niger and Mekrou Rivers. The 11,320 sq km—and its diversity of rainy season lasts from May to early October, with habitats and species*. Both its proximity an average rainfall of 700-800 mm, while the dry to the rapidly growing capital of Niamey, season is divided into a cold and a hot season. Niger, and the burgeoning trans-Saraha tourist traffic give it great tourist potential. Infrastructure and facilities The park and its wildlife, however, are W National Park of Niger is administered by the under constantly increasing pressure Direction of Forests and Wildlife, which is part of from poaching, illegal grazing, uncontrol- led bush fires, the possibility of phosphate mining, and the lack of financial and material means to combat these problems. The author is a US Peace Corps biologist who worked in Niger for four years, for part of the time attached to the IUCN/WWF aridlands project. He describes conditions and problems in the Niger sector of W National Park and discusses possible solutions.

The Niger sector of W National Park is situated in the south-west of the country, between 11°55' N and 12°35'N and 2°5' E and 2°50' E. It is bordered by the permanently flowing Niger River on the east, two seasonal rivers, the Tapoa and Park boundary the Mekrou, on the north and south respectively, International boundary and the Upper Volta frontier on the west. It covers approximately 2190 sq km and its average ele- vation is 250 m. The soils are generally shallow *Douglas-Hamilton, 1979; IUCN, 1981. 230 OryxVoll8No4

the Ministry of Hydrology and Environment. The because of lack of funds for repairs and fuel. The staff comprises a park director, two technical budget for the park in 1982, excluding salaries for agents, three mid-level agents, 10 guards posted personnel, was 3,800,000 cfa (US $11,000). A at Tapoa, the park headquarters, and one tech- 25-room tourist hotel was constructed in 1981 nical agent posted on the Niger River. Equipment and a small museum is maintained at the park includes a Land Rover, a dump truck, and a road entrance. grader, although these are often non-functional

•VI

Phosphate exploration in W National Park, Niger (John Newbv).

W National Park in Niger 231

Vegetation W National Park is the only large relatively The park lies within the Sudan Savanna vege- undisturbed tract of savanna wildland remaining tation zone and the vegetation types have been in Niger and this is reflected in the large number described by Koster (1981). A total of 454 species of plant species occurring there that have not of plants have now been recorded (Grettenber- been found elsewhere in the country. Species of ger, 1983). Combretum shrub savanna is the interest include the only two orchid species most widespread vegetation type occurring on recorded in Niger, Euhphia cucullata and E. shallow infertile soils, with the dominant shrubs, guineensis, and the insectivorous plant, Drosera Combretum micranthum, C. nigricans, Guiera indica, all of which are very sensitive to grazing senegalensis and Acacia ataxacantha usually 1— and trampling. The park also contains the only 3 m in height, and the grass cover dominated by significant remaining tracts of riparian forest in annuals such as Loudetia togoensis, Ctenium Niger, those outside the park having been largely elegans and Hyparrhenia involucrata, cut down or degraded. Combretum wooded savanna, which occurs on deeper, more porous soil, is quite variable but the usual dominant trees are Combretum glutino- Fauna sum, C. collinum, C. nigricans, Crossopteryx Poche (1976) listed 79 species of mammals as febrifuga, Terminalia avicennioides and Pi/io- having once occurred in the Niger sector of W stigma reticulatum. Grass cover ranges up to 3 m National Park. The hunting dog Lycaon pictus, in height and is characterised by the annuals African clawless otter Aonyx capensis, and the Hypparhenia involucrata, Andropogon pseud- African manatee Trichechus senegalensis were all apricus, A. fastiagatus and the perennial A. listed as being extinct there, although the gay anus. Riparian forest is found along all manatee is still occasionally reported just south of seasonal and permanent watercourses, although the park on the Niger River. Large mammals the width, density and species composition vary include all the species occurring in the West greatly with terrain, soil and moisture availability. African savanna except the giant eland Trage- Dominant woody species include trees such as laphus derbianus and the giraffe Giraffa came- Mitragyna inermis, Vitex chrysocarpa, Daniellia lopardalis. The last census of large mammal oliveri, Cola laurifoHa, Diospyros spp. and populations took place in 1978 (Koster, 1981) Anogeissus leiocarpus and shrubs such as and another is now needed. Several species merit Mimosa pigra, Combretum micranthum and attention because of their rarity or recent changes Acacia spp. in their numbers. 232 Oryx Vol 18 No 4

Elephant demic in 1981, which affected their populations In the early 1970s the elephant population in the in the entire region. An estimated 50-60 per cent park during the dry season was reported to be 95 reduction in their population occurred and no (Poche, 1974a), although this estimate was young were observed until late 1982. probably low. Large numbers of elephants were instead reported to spend the dry season around Topi permanent water up to 150 km north of the park. This once widespread antelope has now become The 1978 aerial census, however, estimated the very rare in West Africa (Sayer, 1982), and the population at 600 ±90 and their numbers appear region of W National Park, Arly National Park in to have increased in the last three years, despite Upper Volta and Pendjari National Park in Benin increased poaching. Increased hunting and now harbours the only viable population grazing and the expansion of agriculture have remaining west of Cameroon. W National Park is been causing elephants to migrate into the park, therefore a key area for the conservation of this as has been described elsewhere in Africa species. An estimated 50-100 are present in the (Buechner el a/., 1963; Myers, 1973). There has Niger sector. also been an influx of elephants from the Benin and Upper Volta sectors of W National Park, where law enforcement is minimal. Even within Hippotamus the Niger sector, the amount of illegal activity along the borders has resulted in concentrations Although at one time common in the Niger and of elephants in the middle of the park, which has Mekrou rivers, hunting has reduced the popu- caused increasing habitat damage, particularly in lation to probably fewer than 10 individuals in the the riparian zones. Damage has been most severe portion of the Niger River bordering the park. along the Tapoa River, where the construction of a dam in 1980 created a permanent water source Leopard near the park headquarters where elephants are Koster (1981) reported three leopard sightings in relatively safe from poaching. 1974—78, but no reliable sightings were obtained during the author's stay in the park in 1980-83, although tracks were occasionally reported. The Buffalo difficulty of observing this secretive, nocturnal Previously the most common large ungulate in species makes it status difficult to ascertain, but it the park, buffalo suffered from a rinderpest epi- is undoubtedly very rare because of hunting. IV National Park in Niger 233

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.202.8, on 27 Sep 2021 at 06:27:29, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605300019281 needed for patrolling the riparian areas along the frequented by tourists to improve visibility for Niger River. wildlife viewing, to induce a flush of perennial (4) Tri-national co-operation grasses for grazing animals, and to create fire- Each part of W National Park is administered breaks to prevent large-scale late-season fires. In separately and no agreement has been reached addition, large areas, particularly in the east and between Niger, Upper Volta and Benin to co- west, are burned by poachers and herders, result- ordinate law enforcement activities. Particularly ing in over 75 per cent of the park being burned important would be an agreement allowing the each year. This fire regime can lead to a decrease right of pursuit into another country when in perennial grasses, an increase in fire-resistant following poachers. This sort of agreement would woody species, primarily Combretum spp., most logically be reached under the auspices of degradation of the soil and destruction of riparian the Parks and Reserves Committee of the Conseil forest. Another effect is the loss of unbumed habi- de 1'Entente. tat particularly favoured by elephants, buffalo and bohor reedbuck Redunca redunca. (5) Education This final point is perhaps the most important With these considerations in mind, a fire-manage- because, in the long run, no park can exist ment plan was drawn up and implemented in without some degree of co-operation and under- 1982. Its basic goals were to decrease the area standing from the people living around it. There burned, to be more specific in the vegetation type needs to be a programme, perhaps similar to that chosen to be burned, and to bum early in the wet in Senegal (Dupuy, 1982), to educate the people season to control woody vegetation. This plan as to the value of wildlife, which would go hand in was flexible, because of a lack of firebreaks other hand with another to provide more employment than roads and rivers, but it worked quite effec- through the park and to raise the standard of tively, although fires set by poachers and herders living in the area. are still a significant problem. Illegal grazing Water Illegal grazing greatly increased during the 1970s Water is one of the most important factors affect- as a result of increased vaccination of live- ing animal distribution in the park. A large stock against trypanosomiasis, and the difficulty number of natural waterholes exist outside of the of discouraging herders in a country where food major riverbeds, but most of these dry up by shortages are chronic, and where the only effec- January or February. To improve the situation, a tive means seems to be occasionally snooting number of waterholes were created or improved, cattle. The problem is most acute along the Niger primarily along seasonal drainages. In addition, a River and the upper Tapoa River, where up to concrete dam was constructed in 1980 across the 10,000 sheep and cattle can be found during the Tapoa River, which backs up water for 2-3 km at dry season. They have effectively displaced wild- the end of the dry season. These waterholes pro- life from the most productive habitat in the park vide alternative sources of water to the heavily and changes in the vegetation and erosion caused poached Mekrou River Valley, and distribute by trampling, overgrazing and cutting of browse wildlife into areas that would not normally be are quite obvious. Predators are often poisoned accessible. However, no maintenance has been or trapped and the scarcity of large predators is a done since 1978 on the waterholes, and erosion direct result of these actions. and trampling have greatly reduced their useful- ness. An upgrading of the waterholes is urgently Fire needed. Burning is a valuable management tool in savanna parks in West Africa, but if improperly Roads used can have negative impacts on the soil, vege- A more than adequate network of 470 km of tation and water. In the past, park personnel have roads exists, which are repaired each year after the conducted widespread burning in the areas most rainy season by a road grader and a small crew of W National Park in Niger 235

Downloaded from https://www.cambridge.org/core. IP address: 170.106.202.8, on 27 Sep 2021 at 06:27:29, subject to the Cambridge Core terms of use, available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605300019281 four or five workers. However, because of poor Because of a lack of trained personnel and finan- road placement, soil erosion, and the lack of per- cial means, Niger can only provide limited manent crossings on seasonal streams, the con- support for wildlife conservation and must con- dition of the roads has deteriorated alarmingly, tinue to rely on international assistance if it is to be and maintenance becomes more difficult every effective in protecting and developing its parks. year. A large crew of workers needs to be em- This aid has not been forthcoming for W National ployed to put in rock crossings, fill in gullies and Park, despite its importance, and it continues to dig run-off channels. The possibility of employing function on the limited means available to it. The crews of workers for annual road maintenance, as situation has reached very serious proportions, described by Sayer (1981) in Benin, should also and if assistance is not given in the near future, a be explored. This would avoid the mechanical valuable part of Niger and West Africa's natural and fuel problems associated with the grader and heritage will be irrevocably lost. would also provide economic benefits for the local populations. Acknowledgments I would like to thank John Newby and Mary Mahaffy for their criticism of this manuscript. I would also like to acknowledge Tourism the support of the Direction of Forests and Wildlife and the US The park enjoys a fairly good tourist trade, prim- Peace Corps. arily from residents of Niamey, but the potential References exists for greatly increasing revenue and the Buechner, H.K., Buss, I.O., Longhurst, W.M. and Brooks, number of visitors. During the 1981-82 season A.C. 1963. Numbers and migration of elephants in 1700 season permits were sold, each costing Murchinson Falls, Uganda. J. Wildl. Mgmt. 27,36-53. 1000 cfa (US $2.5) for non-Nigeriens, which is Douglas-Hamilton, I. 1979. IUCN/WWF/NYZS African Ele- the same price that it cost in 1954 when the park phant Action Plan. Final Report. Gland, Switzerland. 174 PP- was created, and is much lower than for other Dupuy, A. 1982. Anti-poaching efforts in Senegal's national African parks. The price could reasonably be parks. Paper presented at 3rd World National Parks Con- raised to 2000 cfa (US $5) for a three-day pass gress, Bali. 4 pp. and 5000 cfa (US $12.5) for the season. Niger- Grettenberger, J. 1983. Une liste des plantes vasculaires du iens are admitted free. Pare National de W, Niger. Mimeo. 14 pp. IUCN 1981. Conserving Africa's natural heritage. Gland, There is a lack of transport for visitors; to enter the Switzerland. 271 pp. Koster, S. 1981. A survey of the vegetation and ungulate park one must own a vehicle, or rent one in populations in Park W, Niger. MS thesis. Michigan State Niamey, which is very expensive. The purchase University, East Lansing. 134 pp. of a vehicle, either by the Bureau of Tourism or Koster, S.H. and Grettenberger, J.F. 1983. A preliminary list the hotel, would greatly increase visits, particu- of birds of Park W, Niger, Malimbus, 5(2), 4, 62-72. larly by international travellers. The development Myers, N. 1973. Tsavo National Park, Kenya and its elephants. An interim appraisal. Biol. Conserv. 5(2), 123- of boating, sport fishing, hides and camping 132. would greatly enhance the park's attractiveness Poche, R.M. 1974a. Ecology of the African elephant to tourists. (Loxodonta africana) in Niger, West Africa. Mammalia, 38(7), 568-580. Poche, R.M. 1974b. Notes on the roan antelope (Hippotragus Conclusion equinus) in West Africa. J. appl. Ecol. 11(3), 963-968. Poche, R.M. 1975. The bats of National Park W, Niger, Africa. Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world Mammalia, 39,39-50. and is beset by a host of problems, ranging from Poche, R.M. 1976a. A checklist of the mammals of National periodic drought and desertification to a drop in Park W, Niger, Africa. Nig. Fid41(3), 113-115. world uranium prices, its primary export com- Poche, R.M. 1976b. Notes on primates in Pare National du W modity. Not unexpectedly, wildlife has not du Niger, West Africa. Mammalia, 40(2), 187-198. Sayer, J.A. 1981. Tourism or conservation in the national received a particularly high priority. Niger has parks of Benin. Parks, 5(2), 13-15. continued to support wildlife conservation, how- Sayer, J.A. 1982. The pattern of the decline of the korrigum ever, and the recent creation of the National (Damaliscus lunatus) in Wet Africa. Biol. Consent. 23, Nature Reserve of the Air and Tenere is evidence 95-110. of this. John Grettenberger, 616HallBlvd, Mason, MI48854, USA. 236 Oryx Vol 18 No 4