. The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests: Africa. Further suitable habitat for the West African dwarf crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis is being created at Abuko Nature Reserve, which is the only place in Gambia zvhere this species still occurs. E. Dragesco/WWF The irrigation scheme also helped take the pressure off other species within the reserve, as the loss of small bodies of surface water had forced mammals and birds to drink and bathe at the larger permanent pools inhabited by Nile crocodiles, probably leading to the local increase in the predation on species such as sitatunga Tragelop
. The Conservation Atlas of Tropical Forests: Africa. Further suitable habitat for the West African dwarf crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis is being created at Abuko Nature Reserve, which is the only place in Gambia zvhere this species still occurs. E. Dragesco/WWF The irrigation scheme also helped take the pressure off other species within the reserve, as the loss of small bodies of surface water had forced mammals and birds to drink and bathe at the larger permanent pools inhabited by Nile crocodiles, probably leading to the local increase in the predation on species such as sitatunga Tragelophus spekii. Over 100 vertebrate species use the smaller pools including red colobus, vervet and red patas mon- key, north African crested porcupine Hystnx cnsiata, turacos, monitor lizards and forest cobras Naja melanokuca. It seems that the irrigation scheme has been successful for O. tetraspis, at least in the short term. By slightly modifying the crocodiles' natural environment to reinstate former hydrologi- cal cycles, breeding has recommenced after an eight-year break. Niokola-Koba National Park, Samba Dia Classified Forest and Saloum Delta National Park and three Worid Heritage sites: Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary, the Island of Goree and Niokolo-Koba National Park. Four of the protected areas contain some moist forest (see Table ). The 50 sq. km Basse-Casamance National Park, established in 1970, contains the best example of seasonally moist forest. Located in the extreme south of the country, the park incorporates man- groves at its west end and Guinea-woodland, savanna and sec- ondary forest throughout the rest of its area. However, many of the largest emergent trees have died in recent years and the surround- ing buffer zone has been modified by felling and grazing. As a result most of the park's larger mammal species seem to have declined. More than 50 species of mammal have been recorded including leopard, buffalo Syncems caffer, Campbell's monkey, Demidoff s g
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