BIA NATIONAL PARK

Bia is located near the Ivorian border, the Bia River, and its tributaries, which flow into the cote d’ Ivoire, drain an area covering 190 sq. km. It was created in 1935 and became a National Park in 1974. Visitor centers are being developed. Bounded on the south by a 563 sq. km Resource Reserve, the core area is untouched rain forest with the distinction of having some of the tallest trees in West Africa. As the only known natural home of the newly discovered lizard, Agama Sylvanus, the animal life is outstanding. Bia has forest elephants, Colobus monkeys, Diana monkey, leopard, buffalo, the giant hog, and a variety of antelopes and chimpanzee. Bird species number 189 including the endangered white-breasted Guinea fowl as well as hawks, eagles, bulbuls. Flycatchers and the rare black-collared lovebird. In 1984, the Park was declared an UNESCO Biosphere reserve. The chimpanzee is Bia’s Emblem.