Introduction:
 On
the 25th March 2008 the Secretary of State for Forestry
& Environment gazetted / declared Bolong Fenyo
as the Gambia's first Community Wildlife Reserve.
The site is located in the Village of Gunjur, Kombo
South, along 2 kilometres of the Atlantic Coastline.
Its area's geographical coordinates are 16°47’ E - 16°
47’ E - 13°21’N -13°23’N and covers a total area of
345 hectares. Its distance from Banjul
is 35 km.
Ecosystem:
 This
area of Gunjur
incorporates mangroves, dry woodlands and coastal dune
scrub. The area is very fragile and provides critical
roosting ground for both residential and migratory species
of birds. It is also a breeding ground for green turtles.
Such ecosystems include marine, coastal dune, fresh
water mash, mangrove, woodland/savanna and thicket.
The presence of mangroves makes it an ecologically important
locations for spawning and chick rearing.
However, human activity in the area is damaging the
delicate ecosystem. Because of the threat the Gunjur
Environmental Protection and Development Group, (GEPADG)
the local people, the Dept.
of Parks and Wildlife and the World Bank came together
for the project which is called the Integrated Coastal
and Marine Biodiversity Management Project.
Avi-Fauna: See too 
Bird
Watching
The importance of the area is because of the diversity
of bird species  found
their which for example is a roosting and feeding area
for sea gulls, terns, and other avian species. Because
its shoreline location is on the western most tip of
Africa means that it is one of the stop-overs on the
flight path for many Palearctic migrants species. Among
these are Caspian terns, black winged stilt, black backed
gull. In 2006, 76 species of birds (marine and woodland),
were recorded from Bolong Fenyo.
Fauna:
 So
far 11 reptilian species and 16 mammal species have
been recorded. Past the shoreline there are 3 crab species,
bottle nose dolphins
and Humpback bottle nose dolphins, mudskippers and jellyfish.
The green turtle which is a threatened species also
comes to lay its eggs on the beach.
Among the reptiles are: black forest cobra, spitting
cobra, geckoes, Nile monitor, chameleon and the African
python.
Among the mammals are: Sun squirrel, Epaulet fruit bats,
hare, Gambian mongoose, the porcupine and others.
Flora:
Typical plants in the woodland and scrub are Rhun palm,
African locust bean, baobab,
Acacia and mango trees. |
