Places: Lekki Conservation Centre
History
The Centre was founded in 1990 as a biodiversity conservation landmark and a center for environmental education. The Chevron Corporation created the facility for the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) as a protected habitat for the Lekki Peninsula’s diverse flora and animals. Since then, the corporation has contributed annual financing for the Center’s management.
In 1987, the NCF technical team examined three possible conservation areas in collaboration with the defunct Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives to kick off the project. Following that, the Lekki region was chosen as the conservation project’s demonstration location. The Lekki Conservation Centre was named for the conservation project’s location on the Lekki Peninsula.
The 78-hectare protected area is situated on the Lekki Peninsula, adjacent to the Lekki Lagoon. It safeguards the Lekki peninsula’s wetlands, which include marsh and savannah ecosystems. A promenade of coconut palms greets visitors as they approach the reserve, leading to a well-designed vehicle and visitor park. It has a diverse range of plant and animal life. Its vast marshes have been kept aside for wildlife watching. Animals such as monkeys, crocodiles, snakes, and numerous birds may be seen from elevated walkways. There’s also a library and a conservation center.
The Nigerian Conservation Foundation manages the wetlands, which currently comprise a figure-of-eight system of pathways, hiking trails, and stepping stones to bridge streams. In 1992, a path boardwalk was built to provide guests a better perspective of the nature reserve’s huge riches, which are contained in mangrove terrain. The swamp view, bird hide, refreshment stations, and tree house are among the trail’s side attractions. Two wooden pathways link the 1.8-kilometer nature route behind the main buildings. An large area of marshland and savannah grassland filled with wild life, as well as rich aquatic flora and wildlife, is revealed by a robust wooden pathway leading to the nature trail.
A tree house, a twenty-one-meter-high tree platform with a panoramic view over the picnic area, reserve, visitor’s center, and children’s playground amid the trees, is also available. The bird hide looks out over a swamp/marsh where crocodiles and monitor lizards live. The nature reserve is home to a diverse range of flora types, including secondary forest, swamp forest, and savanna grassland. Several bird species may be found here, and this is one of them. It is also a popular destination for student field trips. Although mammalian life is usually nocturnal, it is occasionally visible. Small reptiles, as well as a variety of snakes and lizards, may be found in this area. Amphibians constitute a diverse group of threatened species. The auditorium, which is designed like a cone, is used for lectures, conferences, and seminars.
At first look, the circular hall is surrounded by unique collections of beautiful photographs of endangered animal and plant species displayed in glass cases.
Attempts have been undertaken to preserve several animals, reptiles, and bird species from extinction. Bush deer, crocodiles, mona monkeys, squirrels, snakes, crocodiles, monitor lizards, duikers, gigantic rats, and pigs are among the endangered species. While mona monkeys and other monkey species live in the trees, bushbucks, maxwell’s duikers, giant rats, pigs, mongooses, chameleons, squirrels, and an incredible array of wildlife live in the open grasslands. Park rangers can also serve as tour guides. The Longest Canopy Walkway in Africa is at the Lekki Conservation Centre.
