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New page: right|thumb|250px|West African Dwarf crocodile (''Osteolaemus tetraspis'') Comoé National Park is a national park in Côte d'Ivoire and one of the la...
[[Image:Dwarf crocodile.jpg|right|thumb|250px|West African Dwarf crocodile (''Osteolaemus tetraspis'')]]
[[Comoé National Park]] is a national park in [[Côte d'Ivoire]] and one of the largest protected areas in [[Africa|West Africa]], with an area of 4437 square miles. The park contains a wide variety of habitats, including [[savannah]], wooded savannah, gallery forests, riverine forest, and [[Riparian area|riparian grasslands]]. The habitat variety also provides for a great diversity of wildlife species, including 11 species of [[monkey]], 17 species of [[carnivore]], and 21 species of [[ungulate|grazing animals]]. The park also provides a habitat for 10 species of [[heron]], four of the six West African [[stork]] species, five
of the six West African [[vulture]] species, and all three species of African [[crocodile]] (''Nile'', ''Slender-snouted'' and ''Dwarf'', all of which are [[Endangered species|endangered]]).<ref>''Fauna'' Comoé National Park, Cote d'Ivoire [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/comoe.html United Nations Environment Programme/World Conservation Monitoring Centre]. Accessed 15 January 2008</ref> Because of the human [[Ecology|ecological]] difficulties in settling the area, mainly due to the presence of the [[blackfly]] which causes "river blindness", it is one of the few remaining areas in West Africa which maintains its ecological integrity.<ref>''IUCN Technical Review'' World Heritage Nomination 227 - Comoe National Park (June 1983)</ref>
==Indigenous population==
Ethnic groups living around the park include the '''Lobi''', the '''Koulabgo''', the '''Dioula''', and the '''Djimini'''. These groups are mostly reliant upon [[Agriculture|agricultural]] and [[hunting]] activities, andthe population density is low.<ref>''Local Human Population'' [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/comoe.html UNEP/WCMC]. Accessed 15 January 2008</ref>
==Cultural heritage==
One forested area near the village of Gorowi is considered to be sacred. There are other sacred sites in neighbouring villages, but these have neither been well located nor studied.<ref>''Cultural heritage'' [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/comoe.html UNEP/WCMC]. Accessed 15 January 2008</ref>
==World heritage==
The park was inscribed on the list of [[World Heritage Site]]s by [[UNESCO]] in 1983, having fulfilled two of the selection criteria relating to [[ecosystem]]s, [[biodiversity]] and natural habitats.<ref>''Selection criteria, ix,x'' The Criteria for selection [http://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria/ UNESCO]. Accessed 15 January 2008</ref>
==Threats==
Problems have always included uncontrolled burning, grazing and overgrazing of cattle and poaching, particularly of elephant, roan antelope and waterbuck, despite vigorous anti-poaching campaigns; between 1992 and 1995, a guard and two poachers died during anti-poaching confrontations. Poaching from [[Burkino Faso]] has also increased.<ref>''Justification for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger, 2003: Report of the 27th Session of the Committee'' [http://whc.unesco.org/archive/repcomx99.htm#sc227 UNESCO]. Accessed 15 January 2008</ref> The park was placed on the list of World Heritage in Danger in 2003.
==External links==
*[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/227 UNESCO] Site entry. Accessed 15 January 2008
==References==
<small>{{reflist|1}}</small>
[[Category:World Heritage Sites]]
[[Category:Africa]]
[[Comoé National Park]] is a national park in [[Côte d'Ivoire]] and one of the largest protected areas in [[Africa|West Africa]], with an area of 4437 square miles. The park contains a wide variety of habitats, including [[savannah]], wooded savannah, gallery forests, riverine forest, and [[Riparian area|riparian grasslands]]. The habitat variety also provides for a great diversity of wildlife species, including 11 species of [[monkey]], 17 species of [[carnivore]], and 21 species of [[ungulate|grazing animals]]. The park also provides a habitat for 10 species of [[heron]], four of the six West African [[stork]] species, five
of the six West African [[vulture]] species, and all three species of African [[crocodile]] (''Nile'', ''Slender-snouted'' and ''Dwarf'', all of which are [[Endangered species|endangered]]).<ref>''Fauna'' Comoé National Park, Cote d'Ivoire [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/comoe.html United Nations Environment Programme/World Conservation Monitoring Centre]. Accessed 15 January 2008</ref> Because of the human [[Ecology|ecological]] difficulties in settling the area, mainly due to the presence of the [[blackfly]] which causes "river blindness", it is one of the few remaining areas in West Africa which maintains its ecological integrity.<ref>''IUCN Technical Review'' World Heritage Nomination 227 - Comoe National Park (June 1983)</ref>
==Indigenous population==
Ethnic groups living around the park include the '''Lobi''', the '''Koulabgo''', the '''Dioula''', and the '''Djimini'''. These groups are mostly reliant upon [[Agriculture|agricultural]] and [[hunting]] activities, andthe population density is low.<ref>''Local Human Population'' [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/comoe.html UNEP/WCMC]. Accessed 15 January 2008</ref>
==Cultural heritage==
One forested area near the village of Gorowi is considered to be sacred. There are other sacred sites in neighbouring villages, but these have neither been well located nor studied.<ref>''Cultural heritage'' [http://www.unep-wcmc.org/sites/wh/comoe.html UNEP/WCMC]. Accessed 15 January 2008</ref>
==World heritage==
The park was inscribed on the list of [[World Heritage Site]]s by [[UNESCO]] in 1983, having fulfilled two of the selection criteria relating to [[ecosystem]]s, [[biodiversity]] and natural habitats.<ref>''Selection criteria, ix,x'' The Criteria for selection [http://whc.unesco.org/en/criteria/ UNESCO]. Accessed 15 January 2008</ref>
==Threats==
Problems have always included uncontrolled burning, grazing and overgrazing of cattle and poaching, particularly of elephant, roan antelope and waterbuck, despite vigorous anti-poaching campaigns; between 1992 and 1995, a guard and two poachers died during anti-poaching confrontations. Poaching from [[Burkino Faso]] has also increased.<ref>''Justification for inscription on the List of World Heritage in Danger, 2003: Report of the 27th Session of the Committee'' [http://whc.unesco.org/archive/repcomx99.htm#sc227 UNESCO]. Accessed 15 January 2008</ref> The park was placed on the list of World Heritage in Danger in 2003.
==External links==
*[http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/227 UNESCO] Site entry. Accessed 15 January 2008
==References==
<small>{{reflist|1}}</small>
[[Category:World Heritage Sites]]
[[Category:Africa]]