Liberia is no doubt a country endowed with natural resources and is home to the largest forest block in the Upper Guinea Rain Forest. It is also known as a biodiversity hotspot with impressive and charismatic reptile and mammal species including; three important crocodiles - Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticu), Slender-snouted crocodile (Crocodylus cataphractus), Broad-fronted or Dwarf crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), and the West African Chimpanzee (Pantroglodytes verus), Olive colobus (Procolobus verus), Bourlon?s Genet (Genetta bourloni), Leighton?s Linsang (Poiana leightoni), African Golden Cat (Caracal aurata), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Jentink?s Duiker (Cephalophus jentinki). The above mentioned species are listed on the IUCN Red List and the Liberia protected species list as threatened and endangered.
However, the conservation status of these three important crocodiles remain at the mercy of habitat destruction and large scale hunting for skins to promote shoes making and other uses (Shirley, et al., 2009). Liberia is data defficient when it comes to the record of its biodiversity. Information available are either found to be out dated with no recent track of follow up research on what has been said about a particular species, especially the three crocodiles found in Liberia. However, early record shows that Slender-snouted crocodile was recorded as severely depleted in Liberia (Kofron 1992).
This project is aimed at creating the first natural habitat in the Marshall area for the conservation and ecotourism of crocodiles in Liberia. The project will make sure crocodile be a flagship species or symbol of protected reptile in Liberia. We will raise conservation awareness about these important animals in communities sourrounding mangroves in Montserrado and Margibi counties.
The major threats posed to crocodiles in Liberia are habitat destruction and commercial skins hunting. Lack of data about the population status and distribution can also be considered as threat. People unknowingly destroyed their habitats since information about crocodiles is lacken and we do not know exactly where they occured or how many are there in Liberia. The Nile crocodile is believed to be found along the Sinoe river around the Sapo National Park (Vogt, 2007). Agricultural practices in mangrove swamps and firewood harvesting are practical activities attributed to the decline of crocodiles in Liberia. The long term goal of this project is to improve the habitats of these three crocodiles and reduce the large scale unsustainable commercial skins hunting and encourage ecotourism to raise the income levels