Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve
Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve is a national park in The Gambia. Established in 1996 it covers 220 square kilometres.
The Wetland Reserve is located on the north bank of the River Gambia, approximately 100 km from the river mouth. The name is derived from the Bao Bolon tributary that rises in Senegal and enters the River Gambia. It extends from the River Gambia north to the Senegalese border along the Baobolon tributary.
History
On 1 January 1993, an area of 35 km² was first declared as Bao Bolong National Reserve. From 16 September 1996 on, it has covered an extended area of 220 km². It was the first reserve in the Gambia to be acknowledged as a wetland area worthy of protection according to the Ramsar Convention. Since 1975, this convention, whose draft had been initiated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, protects the habitat of water birds and Charadriiformes. For other nature reserves in the country, such as Tanbi Wetland Complex or Niumi National Park, a Ramsar acknowledgement is also being aimed at by the Gambian authorities. As with NNP, it is intended to extend Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve across the border and to jointly administrate the area with Senegalese authorities.Geography
The reserve features a length of 22 kilometres and an approximate width of nine km. The western part is located in the Central Baddibu district while the eastern part adheres to Upper Baddibu, both of which belonging to the North Bank Division.Chiefly, the reserve is made up of the river Bao Bolong's estuary, one of the bigger tributaries of the river Gambia. It is located about 100 km away from the Gambia's mouth into Atlantic Ocean. The roughly 100 km long Bao Bolong river's spring is situated in Senegal. Furthermore, BBWR includes the rivers Salokini Bolong, Mandon Bolong, Duntu Malang Bolong, Tanku Bolong and Katchang Bolong.
The Gambia river thereby formes the southern boundary of the protected area. Approximately two kilometres away on the opposite bank of the river, the roughly 115 km² large Kiang West National Park is located. A some two and a half kilometres wide zone of dense mangrove forest adjoines to the river. To the west lies the town of Salikenne, which is also located near the Dobo Forest Park of 7.32 km². At the western border, the Jalabiro Forest Park of 0.59 km² can moreover be found.
The northern edge is bordered by the north bank road, Gambia's secondmost important highway. Along this road and the fork to Salikenne, several smaller towns like Nja Kunda, Minti Kunda, Kekuta Kunda, No Kunda, Konti Kunda Sukoto, Konti Kunda Nji and Illiassa are situated. In the east, following a fork of nine km length from the north bank road, the town of Katchang of 1,700 residents can be reached. Farafenni, with a population of more than 30,000 being the division's largest city, lies roughly 18 km outside the outer limits of BBWR to the east. Summed up, there are 25 small towns which are situated at the wetland reserve's boundaries, one among them being inside the park limits proper. The inhabitants of these towns conduct fishery for personal requirements and their stock graze inside BBWR. Furthermore, they collect timber and fire wood there.
The terrain is flat, the highest elevation is cited with 12 metres above mean sea level.
Flora and fauna
Ecosystems
Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve includes a rich fauna and flora within multiple ecosystemss. Important, protected tree species are pointed out by the "Ramsar Information Sheet", such as Pterocarpus erinaceus, Parinari macrophylla, the ana tree, wild mango trees and Néré.Mangroves
Only in the mangrove forest of Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve the mangrove trees of the Senegambia region reach a height of 20 metres. The species Rhizophora racemosa, red mangrove and black mangrove are widespread among them.Salt marshes
In the salt marshes, e.g. the succulent Sesuvium portulacastrum and grasses likeSporobolus spicatus, Paspalum vaginatum as well as Diplachne fusca can be found. In the savanna, which at times is flooded, Phragmites karka, Echinochloa pyramidalis and paper reed are very common.Savannah
In the savannah, trees like Daniellia oliveri, Terminalia albida, Bombax costatum and others are to be found. Among the shrubs one will encounter several species of figs, Physostigma thonningii, Terminalia avicennoides, Anthostema senegalense and Nauclea latifolia. As of grasses, Andropogon tectorum and Gamba grass, Beckeropsis uniseta and Pennisetum subangustum'' are common.Avifauna
The Gambia is frequently visited by ornithologists as more than 540 species of birds have been described there in topic literature. Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve is one of the major targets for tourists and scientists who intend to explore the Gambia's manifold avifauna. Among the birds of BBWR, which include 268 species of 62 families, the Ramsar Information Sheet exemplarily lists the following:Typical for a wetland, BBWR is the habitat of many water birds, which also include geese. Among them comb duck, white-faced whistling duck, garganey, northern pintail, African pygmy goose and the northern shoveler.
The order of Ciconiiformes is represented by birds like western reef heron, little egret, woolly-necked stork, hammerkop, squacco heron, little bittern, Goliath heron, great egret, night heron, grey heron, cattle egret and the sacred ibis. With their long legs, this division of birds searches the river banks for food.
The brackish water areas feature Charadriidae. Spur-winged lapwing, little stint and common sandpiper can be found.
Among the colourful family of kingfishers, which preferably occur near open water, the woodland kingfisher, pied kingfisher, swallow-tailed bee-eater, giant kingfisher, malachite kingfisher and the blue-breasted kingfisher are notable.
Equally colourful are the west African examples of starlings. Among them, the violet-backed starling and the long-tailed glossy-starling can be found inside the Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve.
The Coraciiformes include the Abyssinian ground-hornbill and the European roller.
Also species of parrots can be found in west Africa, among them are the Senegal parrot and the rose-ringed parakeet.
Inevitably linked to water are also pelicans and darters. The pink-backed pelican and the African darter live within the BBWR.
The birds of prey include species like African fish eagle, red-necked buzzard and black kite as well as the bateleur.
Moreover, African mourning doves of the genus Streptopelia and the little swift from the swift family have been spotted.
Fish and other water animals
Among BBWR's ichthyofauna, some fish are noted in the "Ramsar Information Sheet": Ethmalosa fimbriata, barracudas, Polydactylus quadrifilis, Arius latiscutatus, Pseudotolithus elongatus, Pomadasys perotaei and Pseudotolithus bracygnathus. Also tilapia and mullets occur in these waters.Furthermore, a type of oyster, Crassostrea gasar and blue crab can be found.
The West African manatee, a mammal, lives in the water between the mangroves and is categorized as an endangered species.
Moreover, the West African Crocodile is a common species of reptile.
Mammals
Thirty-two species of mammals are known, the "Ramsar Information Sheet" lists the African clawless otter, which is common to the area. Several species of antelopes like sitatunga, bushbuck and the duiker as well as warthogs.Among the predators, the spotted hyena is common. Also leopards are attributed to the BBWR.
The primates, according to the "Ramsar Information Sheet", include the red colobus, the patas monkey and green monkeys. But also the Guinea baboon and the Senegal bushbaby can be found.