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47-531: The Gashaka Gumti region faced rampant hunting, putting immense pressure on its rich biodiversity. Recognizing the escalating threat, the Government of Northern Nigeria commissioned a land systems survey in 1966. This study, conducted by Mike Bawden and Paul Tuley, highlighted the urgent need to protect the watersheds of the forested mountains that supplied the River Taraba. In 1969, a wildlife expert from

94-406: A "facultatively monogamous social structure." Duikers are the most heavily hunted species across forested West and Central Africa. It is not only a vital food source for people living close to its habitats but a vital source of income as well. The animal's flighty, easy-to-scare nature causes the yellow-backed duiker to freeze up in torchlight which makes them very easy to hunt at night. When

141-621: A catastrophe in 1983–84 with the outbreak of pan-African rinderpest, leading to the decimation of ungulates and a surge in poaching. In the late 1980s, the Department for International Development (DFID) extended a lifeline to the park, injecting funds for critical projects. Simultaneously, the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) proposed to the Federal Government that Gashaka Gumti be designated

188-421: A local steppe climate, is characterized by minimal precipitation throughout the year. The Köppen-Geiger classification categorizes its prevailing climate as BSh. Its proximity to the equator makes it challenging to distinctly delineate seasons, with January, February, June, July, August, September, October, November, and December being widely considered as the peak season for visitation. Statistical analysis places

235-520: A mix of 150 indigenes and 119 non-indigenes. Gashaka Gumti National Park boasts a rich tapestry of ecotourism resources, making it a captivating destination for nature enthusiasts. Some key attractions include: The park management has made efforts to enhance visitor experiences by providing facilities such as accommodation, conference centers, and viewing vehicles. With a variety of lodging options, including suites, luxury rooms, and VIP accommodations, GGNP aims to cater to diverse preferences. Additionally,

282-532: A national park. Eleven main reasons were identified, ranging from the protection of watersheds to the development of ecotourism. In 1991, Gashaka Gumti National Park was officially designated under new legislation. Managed by the NCF in partnership with the Gongola State Government's Wildlife Unit, the project aimed to address various conservation challenges. Faith Ananze, an experienced manager, led

329-411: A notable decline in tourism after 2012. This drop is attributed to insecurity threats in the northeastern part of the country, primarily caused by insurgent activities and conflicts between cattle rearers and crop farmers in the region. Despite this decline, the park continues to attract international tourists, with scholars from Britain comprising a significant portion. The financial aspect of tourism at

376-405: A rumen bypass, a rapid passage and high fermentation rate for starch, and they frequently encounter toxins." Yellow-backed duikers are one of the few antelopes that can eat meat. Occasionally, these forest antelopes will kill and eat small animals, such as birds. Duikers are very primitive antelope which diverged early in bovid history. The genus Cephalophus contains 16 African bovids of which

423-409: A total of 338.77 hours. In contrast, January has the lowest daily sunshine hours at 10.48, with a total of 314.44 hours. The yearly total of sunshine hours is 3515.25, averaging around 115.68 hours per month. The table above provides insight into the visitation patterns at Gashaka Gumti National Park from 2005 to 2015. While the total number of visitors during this period was 7,325, the park experienced

470-464: Is Cephalophus silvicultor . It is the type species of Cephalophus , and placed in the subfamily Cephalophinae and family Bovidae . The species was first described by English botanist Adam Afzelius in the journal Nova Acta Regiæ Societatis Scientiarum Upsaliensis in 1815. The generic name has possibly originated from the combination of the New Latin word cephal , meaning head, and

517-496: Is a near-endemic. The tree genera Afrocrania , Balthasaria , Curtisia , Ficalhoa , Hagenia , Kiggelaria , Kuloa , Leucosidea , Platypterocarpus , Trichocladus , Widdringtonia , and Xymalos are Afromontane endemics or near-endemics, as are the plant genera Ardisiandra , Cincinnobotrys , and Stapfiella . Afromontane areas have a wide range of plant communities, including intermediate types. These include: In South Africa , Afromontane forests cover only 0.5% of

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564-511: Is characterized by minimal sexual dimorphism and spotted coats (of juveniles). C. silvicultor forms a superspecies with C. spadix . Four subspecies are recognised: Yellow-backed duikers have a convex body shape, standing taller at the rump than the shoulders. They have very short horns, 8.5 to 21 cm (3.3 to 8.3 in) in length, which are cylindrical and ribbed at the base. An orange crest of hair can be found between their horns. Yellow-backed duikers get their name from

611-414: Is more efficient at digesting poor quality food than most other duiker species. This allows them to eat large, low quality fruits. Their diet makes them very hard to keep in captivity as most domesticated fruits are not well suited to their low fiber requirements. They are considered concentrate selectors, meaning they eat "diets relatively low in fiber, have a well developed ability to forage selectively,

658-616: Is reflective of ungulates accustomed to diving quickly into the underbrush for cover. In fact, duiker is the Afrikaans word for "diver." Duikers are very flighty and easily stressed, and when frightened or pursued will run almost blindly from a threat. At the Los Angeles Zoo , duikers were found to run headlong into the glass of their enclosures if startled. In captivity, duikers have been known to form stress-induced jaw abscesses. Yellow-backed duikers are active at all times of

705-730: Is thought that the yellow-backed duiker may already be locally extinct in the Oban Sector of the Cross River National Park in the Oban Hills Region of Nigeria. The loss of this species may have many impacts due to the yellow-backed duiker's numerous ecological responsibilities. They not only make up a main source of food for many indigenous peoples, but they also act as seed dispersing agents for various plants, and prey items for many carnivores. Afromontane The Afromontane regions are subregions of

752-680: The Afrotropical realm , one of the Earth's eight biogeographic realms , covering the plant and animal species found in the mountains of Africa and the southern Arabian Peninsula . The Afromontane regions of Africa are discontinuous, separated from each other by lower-lying areas, and are sometimes referred to as the Afromontane archipelago , as their distribution is analogous to a series of sky islands . Afromontane communities occur above 1,500–2,000 metres (4,900–6,600 ft) elevation near

799-657: The Greek word lophos , meaning crest. The specific name silvicultor is composed by two Latin words: silva , meaning wood, and cultus , which relates to cultivation. This refers to its habitat. In 1981, Colin Groves and Peter Grubb identified three subgenera of Cephalophus : Cephalophula , Cephalpia and Cephalophus . They classified C. silvicultor under the third subgenus along with C. spadix ( Abbott's duiker ), C. dorsalis ( bay duiker ) and C. jentinki ( Jentink's duiker ). This subgenus

846-420: The red sunbird bush , an ornate species of the acanthus family , was discovered in the 8 km Leinde Fadale forest in the uplands adjacent to the park. The species occurs here at 1,600 to 1,670 m.a.s.l. , and some 1,200 km from the nearest populations in the Afromontane archipelago. It has been suggested that the park boundary should be extended to protect the forest. There are various tree species in

893-430: The roan antelope ( Hippotragus equinus ), the kob antelope ( Kobus kob ), the oribi ( Ourebia ourebi ), and the rare Adamawa mountain reedbuck ( Redunca fulvorufula ) in larger stocks. There are also Chimpanzees (Pantrolodytes vellerous), Golden cat (Fellies Aurata) and giant Forest Hog (Hylochoreus meinertzageni). Predator animals sch as Lion (Panthera Leo), Leopard (Panthera Pardus) and Wild dog can also be found in

940-567: The 31st of July each year, as designated by the International Ranger Federation (IRF). This day serves to honor the selfless service rendered by Rangers who have been killed or injured in the line of duty, highlighting the critical work they do in protecting the natural resources of the Gashaka Gumti National Park. Human animal conflict is rampact in all settlements where man and animals share

987-707: The Congo , and Tanzania , and the Eastern Arc highlands of Kenya and Tanzania. Other Afromontane regions include the Drakensberg range of southern Africa, the Cameroon Highlands , and the Cameroon Line volcanoes, including Mount Cameroon , Bioko , and São Tomé . Although some Afromontane enclaves are widely separated, they share a similar mix of plant species which are often distinct from

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1034-519: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations recommended the creation of a game reserve or national park to safeguard local wildlife resources. These reports coincided with a period when Nigeria, having recently gained independence, prioritized the management of its natural resources, allocating significant financial resources to conservation programs. In 1972, the Government of

1081-622: The Lamdo Gashaka, Dr Zubairu Hammangabdo, emphasized the collective responsibility of conserving the national park. They pledged to mobilize their subjects to protect what is described as "the largest and most diverse conservation enclave in Nigeria." The leaders warned against illegal logging and poaching, stressing that the park is not only a pride for the people of Gashaka but for the entire Taraba State and Nigeria. Efforts to address these conflicts involve commemorating World Rangers Day on

1128-561: The North-East State collaborated with local governments and traditional chiefs of Ganye and Gashaka Gumti divisions to establish three game sanctuaries—Serti, Gashaka, and Gumti. The ban on hunting within these sanctuaries marked a crucial step towards conservation. As Nigeria's economy faltered in the early 1980s, budgets for conservation initiatives, including Gashaka Gumti, were slashed. Neglect ensued, affecting infrastructure, patrolling, and overall park management. The park faced

1175-481: The animal is stunned by torchlight, hunters can almost walk right up to it. This puts the yellow-backed duiker and its relatives at major risk for overhunting. Some scientists even project that by the year 2020 they may be at serious risk. IUCN currently puts the yellow-backed duiker's status at near threatened but if current trends continue, "the yellow-backed duiker's distribution will become increasingly fragmented and its status will eventually become threatened." It

1222-515: The average annual temperature at approximately 26.4 °C | 79.5 °F. The temperature variation throughout the year exhibits a range of 7.4 °C | 13.4 °F. The minimum temperature occurs in January at 16.1 °C | 61 °F, while the maximum is recorded in April and May at 38 °C | 100.3 °F. The monthly temperature averages, displayed in the table, offer insight into the seasonal variations. Annual precipitation in

1269-478: The characteristic patch of yellow hairs on their rump, which stand when the duiker is alarmed or feels threatened. Yellow-backed duiker females often grow to be slightly larger than males. Coloration is very similar between sexes and very little sexual dimorphism exists. The head-and-body length is 115 to 145 cm (45 to 57 in), with a short tail measuring 11 to 18 cm (4.3 to 7.1 in). The yellow-backed duiker weighs in at about 60–80 kg, making it

1316-576: The country's land area. The Afromontane forests occur along the mountainous arc of the Drakensberg Range, from Limpopo Province in the northeast to the Western Cape Province in the southwest. The Afromontane forests generally occur in well-watered areas, including ravines and south-facing slopes. The Afromontane forests are intolerant of fire, and the frequent fires of the surrounding fynbos , savanna , and grassland limit

1363-431: The day and night. They live mainly solitarily or in couples, rarely in even small herds. Their elusive habits mean that very little is known about their ecology and demography compared to other ungulates. The yellow-backed duiker can breed throughout the year, with many breeding two times each year. The female gives birth to one oro (two offspring after a gestation period of 4 to 7 months). The calf remains hidden during

1410-453: The deaths of at least nine Rangers, with several others sustaining injuries over the past few years. The Conservator of the Park, Alhaji Mohammed Kabir, revealed that the deceased Rangers include Usman Yahya, Joshua Mamman, Adamu Hamman, Ajayi Peter, Hamman Njidda, Hamman Dikko, Zamani Teituly, Sunday Ali, and Yakubu Umaru. These tragic incidents are directly linked to the activities of loggers and

1457-782: The equator, and as low as 300 metres (980 ft) elevation in the Knysna-Amatole montane forests of South Africa . Afromontane forests are generally cooler and more humid than the surrounding lowlands. The Afromontane archipelago mostly follows the East African Rift from the Red Sea to Zimbabwe , with the largest areas in the Ethiopian Highlands , the Albertine Rift Mountains of Uganda , Rwanda , Burundi , Democratic Republic of

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1504-541: The family Bovidae . Yellow-backed duikers are the most widely-distributed of all duikers. They are found mainly in Central and Western Africa , ranging from Senegal and Gambia on the western coast, through to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to western Uganda ; their distribution continues southward into Rwanda , Burundi , and most of Zambia . The scientific name of the yellow-backed duiker

1551-429: The first week of life and is weaned at 3 to 5 months after birth. Sexual maturity happens at 12 to 18 months in the male, and at 9 to 12 months in the female. The lifespan is 10 to 12 years in the wild, while 22.5 years in the captivity. These forest dwelling antelope feed selectively on plants or plant parts such as shoots, roots, leaves, and buds, but their diet is mainly made up of fruits. The yellow-backed duiker

1598-411: The highest at 84%, while March records the lowest at 13%. August also sees the highest number of rainy days (14) compared to January, which experiences virtually none. This indicates a distinct wet season during August. Gashaka Gumti National Park experiences varying daily sunshine hours throughout the year. On average, April records the highest daily sunshine hours at approximately 10.93, accumulating to

1645-413: The initiative, assembling a dedicated team of workers to embark on the revitalization of the park. The fauna of the national park is very diverse. 103 species of mammals have been recorded at censuses. Species include yellow-backed duiker , African golden cat ( Profelis aurata ), The African buffalo , the largest population in Nigeria of chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes ) is found within the boundaries of

1692-506: The insecurity surrounding the park and its support zone communities. The conflicts have primarily arisen due to the increased desperation for illegal logging of Rosewood (pterocarpus erinaceous), locally known as Madrid. The economic importance and abundance of this species were discovered between 2014 and 2015 in Gashaka Local Government Area (LGA) and around the national park, creating a serious security threat to

1739-444: The largest of its genus. It has a large mouth, throat and jaw musculature. Yellow-backed duikers are mainly forest dwelling and live in semi-deciduous forests, rain forests, riparian forests, and montane forests. However, they can be found in open bush, isolated forest islands, and clearings on the savanna as well. Their convex body shape is well-suited for forest living. It allows for quick movement through thick forest and bush and

1786-412: The national park amounts to 672 mm | 26.5 inches. The difference in precipitation between the driest (January) and wettest (August) months is notable, reaching 200 mm | 8 inches. Rainfall is generally scarce, with January experiencing virtually no precipitation. Conversely, August is the wettest month with 130 mm | 5 inches of rainfall. Relative humidity fluctuates across the months, with August exhibiting

1833-534: The national park is illuminated in the table below, which breaks down the revenue sources from 2005 to 2015. The park generated approximately ₦44 million ($ 144,000) during this period, with accommodation facilities and compensation emerging as the primary revenue contributors. A critical aspect of tourism is its role in providing employment opportunities. Gashaka Gumti National Park, during the study period, employed 269 full-time and 8 casual staff, contributing to both direct and indirect employment. The workforce comprised

1880-599: The national park. To protect the animals and the ecosystem, the Gashaka Primate Project was launched. Living in the national park are also the African elephant ( Loxodonta africana ), the klipspringer ( Oreotragus oreotragus ), the West African wild dog ( Lycaon pictus manguensis ), the hartebeest ( Alcelaphus buselaphus ), the world's largest antelope, the giant eland ( Taurotragus Derbianus ),

1927-430: The park has well-trained guides to assist visitors in exploring its wonders. Gashaka Gumti National Park has faced significant challenges and conflicts, particularly stemming from illegal logging activities. These conflicts have resulted in the loss of lives among the park's Rangers and posed a serious threat to the conservation efforts in the region. According to a 2019 report, illegal loggers have been responsible for

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1974-743: The park with different tree species growing in different sectors of the park. At Northern Gumti sector, there are tall trees such as Acacia spp, Afzelia Africana, Khaya Seneglensis, Daniella Oliverii, Isober linadoka and Vitellaria paradoxa. At the Gashaka, which is the Southern part of the park, vegetation is closely related to the Southern Guinea Savanna. The dominant tree species in the area include Triplochyton schleroxylon and Aubrvillea kerstingii Africana, Symphonia globulifera and Mallettia spp. The Gashaka Gumti National Park, situated in

2021-428: The park's workers. The Conservator, Alhaji Mohammed Kabir, highlighted the challenges faced by the park, including illegal logging, illegal grazing, high-level insecurity, poaching, and various other illegal human activities. The discovery of Rosewood in the region has led to sleepless nights for park managers and Rangers as they strive to protect the forest resources from desperate loggers. Traditional leaders, such as

2068-567: The park. The avian fauna is very rich and diverse, there are stocks are up 1 million birds estimated. The park is officially labelled as one of Africa's "Important Bird Areas" - and with more than 500 species found, and visiting bird watching enthusiasts are constantly adding new species to the list. The red faced lovebird is only found here and in the Central African Republic 's Bamingui-Bangoran National Park and Biosphere Reserve . In November 2002 an isolated population of

2115-496: The same environment or where conservation areas share boundaries with human settlement. In the Gashaka Gumti Park, the communities in the environment experience the same conflict. There are about 25 communities residing in the immediate surroundings of the park. Yellow-backed duiker The yellow-backed duiker ( Cephalophus silvicultor ) is a shy, forest-dwelling antelope of the order Artiodactyla , from

2162-528: The surrounding lowland regions. Podocarps , of genera Podocarpus and Afrocarpus , are a characteristic tree, along with Prunus africana , Hagenia abyssinica , Juniperus procera , and Olea spp. . In the higher mountains, the Afromontane forest or woodland zone transitions to a higher Afroalpine zone of grasslands, shrublands, or moorlands. The plant families Curtisiaceae and Oliniaceae are Afromontane endemics and family Barbeyaceae

2209-781: The yellow-backed duiker is the largest. Cephalophus refers to the long crest of hair found between their horns. The yellow-backed duiker is most closely related to the Abbot's duiker and the Jentink's duiker . These three form the large or "giant" duikers group. The yellow-backed duiker belongs to a group of morphologically, ecologically, and behaviorally convergent mammals which also includes some artiodactyls , rodents , and lagomorphs which exhibit "microcursorial adaptive syndrome." This means they have tropical to subtropical distribution along with small body size, swift, cursorial locomotion, browse on high energy food, have precocial young, and

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