The Independent (Accra)
16 June 2003
Accra — Since Ghana held a national conference on the bushmeat crisis in August 2002, Ghanaians have been made more aware of the threatened state of some creatures in our forests.
It is believed that with this knowledge Ghanaians have become more selective in their consumption of bushmeat. To further help sensitise Ghanaians on the animals, reptiles and birds faced with the danger of extinction, which can be found on this side of the planet, The Environmental Watch would from today begin write-ups on these endangered species, courtesy a document titled "Endangered Bushmeat Species in Ghana" produced by Conservation International - Ghana.
The creatures are categorised as Endangered [EN], Critically Endangered [CE], Vulnerable [V] and Data deficient [DD]. The Environmental Watch begins the write-ups with the over 40 globally threatened species of mammals, fishes and birds that can be found in Ghana.
All species of global conservation concern are also of national conservation concern. At the national level, such species are classified as "Wholly Protected", which means their hunting, capture or destruction are prohibited at all times, as stipulated in Schedule I of the Consolidated Wildlife Laws of Ghana (WD 1999). The Diana Monkey The Diana Monkey with Cercopithecus Diana as its scientific name is commonly known as Diana Quenon or Diana Monkey.
Locally this specie is known as Boapia in Twi and Kakahwia in Nzema. Categorised as endangered (EN), the Diana Monkey's major habitat is the rainforest and is entirely arboreal in middle or upper canopy but not in lower tiers.
This specie can be found in the Bomfobri, Kogyae, Owabi etc. Ankasa, Bia, Kakum and Krokogua ranges of Ghana. The Diana mostly lives on leaves, shoots and fruits and is threatened by destruction of its habitat through forest clearance.
What makes the situation of the Diana even more precarious is the fact that it usually produces only one at birth (rarely 2). Its young are given suck for 6 months. Also its milk dentition is complete at 20 months whilst permanent dentition is developed at 3 1/4 years. The Diana attains sexual maturity when four and half years.
Their ecological contribution is the pollination of flowers as they jump from branch to branch wagging their tails. They also contribute to fruit and seed dispersal.
Traditionally the Diana is revered by some tribes, which refrain from killing them, but worship them as gods of the forest.
These mammals occasionally visit homes to give indications that "something bad" is about to happen e.g. death, epidemic disease etc.
When they visit, libation is poured by the chiefs or traditionalists to prevent such occurrences. Others have the strong belief that when one Diana dies, one human being in the community will also die. Miss Waldron's Red Colobus Miss Waldron's Red Colobus is another monkey specie threatened with extinction. With its scientific name as Procolobus badius, this mammal interestingly is used traditionally to prepare "juju" for protection against accident, theft, sickness etc.
or to acquire more wealth. In such cases, the animals stay with those seeking protection or wealth at home and given protection. Others travel along with them especially those seeking protection against accident.
Miss Waldron's Red Colobus is also commonly called Miss Waldron's Bay colobus and locally known as Eben in Twi and Tehyie in Nzema. This mammal is categorised as critically endangered (CR) and has its major habitat as the rainforest (mainly arboreal).
The Miss Waldron Red Colobus can be found in Ghana at the Nini-Sushien, Bia and Krokosua ranges and face threats mainly from over hunting and habitat destruction by logging activities.
Their main food is flowers, shoots, buds, fruits and leaves. The skin of this mammal is noted for its use to wrap up medicine to treat rushes and bruises in new born babies
In the rainforest, their breeding is not restricted, whereas in other habitats, breeding is seasonal. They usually mate at night during which the male stands on a branch or holds the female's ankles with foot. Gestation period is from five to five and half months.
They usually give birth to only one offspring at birth (rarely twins). The young waldron is carried to mother's belly and nursed only by its own mother.
Sexual maturity is between two and three and half years. Ecologically the Waldrons help in fruit and seed dispersal of lianes and pollination.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2003 The Independent. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
