… As Africans, we do not always have a full understanding of what represent fauna and flora. Today your program will help change mentalities and give a lot of knowledge to the children … It is with regret that I let you go.
– Mr N’dri Leon – Director of the school Group Peniel in Abidjan
Press release: World Animal Day 2024
On this World Animal Day, we would like to highlight the protection of sea turtles in Côte d’Ivoire.
Indeed, we must welcome the creation by the Ivorian government of the country’s first Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the seaside town of Grand-Béréby located 378 km from Abidjan.
The creation of this protected area stems from Law No. 2017-378 of June 2, 2017 on the development, protection and integrated management of the coastline.
The town of Grand Béréby was chosen because it is home to a world-class site for sea turtle nesting.
On site, the turtles are monitored and protected from predators (poachers, crabs, monitor lizards, etc.) by members of a non-governmental organization called Conservation of Marine Species (CEM). Beyond sea turtles, CEM works on the conservation of biodiversity as a whole.
Because of the well done work of CEM, endangered turtle species have multiplied in Grand-Béréby. In 2021, there were 700 protected female turtles that gave birth to more than 60,000 baby turtles per year. In 2020, the Néro-Mer area recorded 36 sea turtle nests compared to 12 in 2010. To ensure success, the NGO and its partners convinced local communities to protect these rare species by raising awareness and providing them with basic social infrastructure (water towers, school, health center, community courtyards, solar lighting systems, etc.) for an investment that to date is approximately 500,000,000 CFA francs.
Inaugurated on December 21, 2020, the MPA is transformed into a nature reserve that fights against the trafficking of rare species, deforestation and the loss of biodiversity.
In addition to sea turtles, pangolins, chimpanzees, monkeys, buffaloes, toucans, etc. have also found a haven there. The natural swimming pools and the beautiful beaches of the country’s West Atlantic Coast are great attractions for tourists. The project therefore revitalizes local ecotourism, contributes to the preservation of underwater life and Ivorian heritage.
After this pilot phase, four other marine protected areas are planned. The network will include: the transboundary site of the mouth of the Cavally River in Tabou (Côte d’Ivoire – Liberia), the site of the Dassioko classified forest, the site of the Azagny national park and the transboundary site of the Ehotilés Islands (Côte d’Ivoire – Ghana).
Today and every day, let us do our utmost to preserve natural habitats and build a prosperous future for all living beings.
Novalis YAO
President and Founder of Monde Animal En Passion-MAEP
World Animal Day 2023
It is no longer a secret, Ivory Coast will host the next African Cup of Nations in January 2024. This is therefore a good opportunity to share with you this very interesting story which I witnessed in 1999 while I was an intern at the Abidjan National Zoo.
In fact, there are very few reports of a forest elephant being born in captivity.
However, the Abidjan National Zoological Park had the opportunity to witness this unique event in the world twice in 1988 and 1992 with the births of Koni and Can respectively.
Coincidence or good luck? Can was born on the day of the victory of the Ivorian team also called “Les Éléphants” during the African Cup of Nations (CAN) edition 92, hence the origin of its name.
Which means Can is 31 this year.
Happy World Animal Day 2023 to all animal lovers!
Mr. Novalis Yao, World Animal Day Ambassador.
Ivory Coast