Akwasi Anokye
Other projects
26 Mar 2018
Status and Conservation of Mecistops cataphractus in the Obuasi Municipality I
9 Oct 2020
Status and Conservation of Mecistops cataphractus in the Obuasi Municipality II
The Jimi River in the Obuasi Municipality is among the few unprotected areas in West Africa that still harbours significant populations of the Critically Endangered West African slender-snouted crocodiles. Unfortunately, the population here is threatened by habitat destruction, human-crocodile conflicts, and hunting.
Akwasi Anokye holding an eggshell from a successfully hatched Mecistops cataphractus nest at Obuasi.
Through our previous Rufford grants, we initiated various interventions including population surveys, conflict mitigation measures, and community awareness which reduced threats in three communities. We further created a community volunteer group to provide a timely response in case of emergencies such as crocodiles entering human residence or fishponds as well as continuous education of locals. This current phase of the project focuses on rehabilitating degraded nesting areas along the Jimi River whiles continuing with local conservation awareness and capacity-building activities. These interventions will promote the long-term protection of this critical population.
Header: Mecistops cataphractus basking along the Jimi River in Obuasi.