The Omo Forest Reserve within Ogun state, Nigeria is of great conservation value with 200 species of tree, 125 species of bird and many mammal species including forest elephant, chimpanzee and white-throated guenon monkeys, all of which are seriously endangered. The Nigerian Forest Elephant Group (NFEG) was established in 1989 in order to protect the 1,300 km2 Omo Forest Reserve and work towards its long-term conservation. Paignton Zoo began supporting the NFEG in 1993 and has been involved with the programme ever since although management of the programme was handed over to the Nigerian Conservation Foundation in 2006.
Paignton Zoo still funds the environmental education programme within the Omo Forest, where environmental educators visit all of the primary schools within the area and teach the children about the importance of the forest and environmental issues. More recently the environmental educators have set up a conservation club that involves all of the local community in the issues surrounding the Omo forest.
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