The Dja Faunal Reserve is located in Cameroon, actually Dja is in the transition neighborhood between the south Nigerian forests, south-western Cameroon and the forests of Congo Basin. The Dja Faunal Reserve covers one of the largest and most biologically diverse tracts of protected rainforests in Africa. 90% of it is still a wilderness barely disturbed by human activities. It is documented as a Biosphere Reserve of UNESCO in 1981 and was inscribed as a World Heritage Site 1984. It was in-scripted because the present of diversity of species, the presence of five mammals threatened species, and comparatively smooth and lack of disturbance within the park. It is mostly fully covered and surrounded by the Dja River a con-tributary to the Congo River,and a stream of villages which form a natural boundary that covers 5,260 square kilometers. The landscape within the enclosed area consists of a fairly flat plateau. The reserve is especially noted for its biodiversity and a wide variety of primates.
This fauna reserve is of rich biological diversity, it hosts four main forest types – Atlantic, semi-deciduous, Congolese and mono specific. Over more than 1500 plant species, 107 mammals in 34 families live in the reserve and almost 200 species can be found in its surroundings, five of which are threatened. Mammals like the African elephant, guenons, forest hogs, warthog, African long-snouted crocodile leopards, African forest buffalo, western lowland gorilla, and various species of monkey live in this protected area. 429 bird species,(80 migrant species have been registered). It is a globally important habitat for the conservation of birds populations. The globally threatened Grey-necked Picathartes (Picathartes oreas), and the endemic Rachel’s Malimbe (Malimbus racheliae) and Forest Swallow are unique and are considered among the most notable birds found here. 60 different species of fish have been recorded, one catfish species being endemic. It is a habitat for the vulnerable western lowland gorilla, endangered western chimpanzee and 7 other species of diurnal primate. Dja is one of the best places to see the extraordinary rockfowl, Picathartes.
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