Boni National Reserve
Encyclopedia
The Boni National Reserve is a national reserve for conservation and lies in the North Eastern Province of Kenya
in the Ijara District
. The reserve covers an area of 1339 km² (517 sq mi) and is managed by Kenya Wildlife Service
. It was gazetted in 1976 as a dry season sanctuary for elephants in Ijara District, Lamu District
and Somalia
. Unfortunately, elephant population has been greatly reduced by poaching.
On December 28, 2010, the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs
included the Boni National Reserve on the list of Kenyan
areas American travelers should avoid because of terrorism and violent crime.
.
, bushpig
, warthog
, buffalo
, common duiker
, topi
and waterbuck
. Common carnivores in the reserve are the vulnerable African Wild Dog
and the aardwolf
. Although extremely rare, African elephants are also present in the reserve. (1)
, possibly including globally threatened species such as Sokoke Pipit
. (1)
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
in the Ijara District
Ijara District
Ijara is an administrative district in the North Eastern Province of Kenya. On May 20, 2000, it was carved out from another and larger Garissa District. It covers an area of 11’332 km² and, according to the population census of 1999, has a population of 62,571...
. The reserve covers an area of 1339 km² (517 sq mi) and is managed by Kenya Wildlife Service
Kenya Wildlife Service
The Kenya Wildlife Service, otherwise known by the initialism KWS, is a Kenyan state corporation that was established in 1990 to conserve and manage Kenya’s wildlife...
. It was gazetted in 1976 as a dry season sanctuary for elephants in Ijara District, Lamu District
Lamu District
Lamu District is a district of Kenya's Coast Province. Its district headquarters is Lamu town. The district covers a strip of northeastern coastal mainland and the Lamu Archipelago. Lamu District has a population of 72,686 and its land area is 6,167 km².There are extensive mangrove forests in...
and Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
. Unfortunately, elephant population has been greatly reduced by poaching.
On December 28, 2010, the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs
Bureau of Consular Affairs
The Bureau of Consular Affairs is a bureau of the United States Department of State within that department's management office. The mission of the Bureau is to administer laws, formulate regulations and implement policies relating to the broad range of consular services and immigration. , the...
included the Boni National Reserve on the list of Kenyan
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
areas American travelers should avoid because of terrorism and violent crime.
Vegetation
The Boni forest, after which the reserve is named, is an indigenous open canopy forest and part of the Northern Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest mosaic http://www.eoearth.org/article/Northern_Zanzibar-Inhambane_coastal_forest_mosaic. Harbouring densities of plant species that are among the highest in the world, the forest has been declared a biodiversity hotspotBiodiversity hotspot
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with a significant reservoir of biodiversity that is under threat from humans.The concept of biodiversity hotspots was originated by Norman Myers in two articles in “The Environmentalist” , revised after thorough analysis by Myers and others in...
.
Wildlife
Common herbivores in the region include hippopotamusHippopotamus
The hippopotamus , or hippo, from the ancient Greek for "river horse" , is a large, mostly herbivorous mammal in sub-Saharan Africa, and one of only two extant species in the family Hippopotamidae After the elephant and rhinoceros, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal and the heaviest...
, bushpig
Bushpig
The bushpig, Potamochoerus larvatus, is a member of the pig family and lives in forests, woodland, riverine vegetation and reedbeds in East and Southern Africa. Probably introduced populations are also present in Madagascar and the Comoros archipelago. Bushpigs are mainly nocturnal. There are...
, warthog
Warthog
The Warthog or Common Warthog is a wild member of the pig family that lives in grassland, savanna, and woodland in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the past it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P...
, buffalo
African Buffalo
The African buffalo, affalo, nyati, Mbogo or Cape buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear...
, common duiker
Common Duiker
The Common Duiker, Sylvicapra grimmia, also known as the Grey or Bush Duiker, is a small antelope with small horns found in west, central, east, and southern Africa- essentially everywhere in Africa south of the Sahara, excluding the horn of Africa and the rainforests of the central and western...
, topi
Topi
The Tsessebe , is one of five subspecies in the binomial class D. lunatus. The other subspecies include Korrigum , Tiang , Coastal Topi , and Topi . Tesessebe are found primarily in Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa...
and waterbuck
Waterbuck
The Waterbuck is a large antelope found widely in Sub-Saharan Africa.Waterbuck stand at the shoulder. Males weigh and females . Their coats are reddish brown in colour and become progressively darker with age; they have a white 'bib' under their throats and white on their rumps...
. Common carnivores in the reserve are the vulnerable African Wild Dog
African Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus is a large canid found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas. It is variously called the African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf...
and the aardwolf
Aardwolf
The aardwolf is a small, insectivorous mammal, native to Eastern and Southern Africa. The name means "earth wolf" in Afrikaans/Dutch. It is also called "maanhaar jackal". It is related to hyenas, but unlike its relatives, it does not hunt large prey. This unusual animal preys on insects...
. Although extremely rare, African elephants are also present in the reserve. (1)
Birds
As part of the East African coastal forest, it is likely to hold bird species characteristic of the coastal forests of eastern AfricaCoastal forests of eastern Africa
The Coastal forests of eastern Africa is a tropical moist forest region along the east coast of Africa. The region was designated a biodiversity hotspot by Conservation International....
, possibly including globally threatened species such as Sokoke Pipit
Sokoke Pipit
The Sokoke Pipit is a species of bird in the Motacillidae family.It is found in Kenya and Tanzania.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.It is threatened by habitat loss.-References:...
. (1)
Further reading
- Githiru, M. et al. (2007) Density, distribution and habitat use by large mammals in Boni National Reserve and the neighbouring Northern Buffer Zone, NE Kenya. National Museums of Kenya.
- Antipa, R. S, Ali, M. H. and Hussein, A. A. (2007) Assessment of the Potential of Eco/Cultural Tourism as Viable Enterprises in Southern Garissa, Ijara and Lamu Districts: A Community Conservation and Enterprise Support Initiative. National Environmental Management Authority of Kenya.
- Antipa, R. S, Ali, M. H. and Hussein, A. A. (2007) Preservation and Maintenance of Biological Diversity Related Knowledge of Indigenous Diversity and Local Communities with Traditional Lifestyles Boni Forest, Ijara District. National Environmental Management Authority of Kenya.