elephant footprint

I was hesitant. Should I be here? Do I have the right to walk through the last 10% of lowland rainforest remaining in Nigeria?

harmattan haze overlooking Omo Forest

Icame on this trip, organized by the Nigerian Field Society and Nicholas Wicks of Pronatura Nigeria, to follow a herd of forest elephants (genetically different from the African savannah elephant) that still roam through this thick bush of the protected reserve: Omo-Shasha-Oluwa Forest.

I had been informed. Illegal logging and farming rendered the forest in grave danger. Due to deforestation, the natural habitat of insects, reptiles, birds, small and large animals is endangered. I had heard the rumors…the Chinese were thirstily cutting down the forest. Illegal villages…illegal hunting…illegal farming. True or not, should I add my footprint?

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