WACN Sumu Wildlife Park Project
West African Conservation Network (WACN) is leading the long-term restoration and development of Sumu Wildlife Park in Bauchi State, Nigeria, a historically important savanna landscape with strong potential to become a flagship model for ecosystem recovery, species reintroduction, and conservation-led development in northern Nigeria.
Sumu Wildlife Park represents a complementary conservation pathway to Kainji Lake National Park. While more compact in scale, Sumu offers a controlled and progressively securable environment well suited to phased ecosystem restoration, including the return of herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores that historically occurred in the region.
Project Focus Areas
WACN’s work at Sumu Wildlife Park is structured around a long-term, phased restoration framework:
1. Habitat Stabilisation & Protection
Securing park boundaries, strengthening on-ground protection, and restoring savanna habitats to support sustainable wildlife populations.
2. Herbivore & Omnivore Recovery
Reintroducing and reinforcing historically native grazing and browsing species to rebuild prey bases, vegetation dynamics, and ecological processes fundamental to a functional savanna ecosystem.
3. Carnivore & Predator Restoration (Phased Approach)
As habitat quality, prey availability, and security improve, Sumu Wildlife Park is envisioned as a future landscape capable of supporting the phased return of native carnivores, including apex and meso-predators that historically occurred in the region. Predator restoration will be carefully planned, scientifically guided, and aligned with ecological readiness and community safety considerations.
4. Science-Led Planning & Adaptive Management
All restoration actions are guided by ecological assessments, historical range data, and adaptive management, ensuring decisions remain scientifically grounded while responsive to changing conditions on the ground.
5. Conservation-Led Tourism, Education & Local Benefits
In the long term, Sumu Wildlife Park is intended to support conservation-based tourism, environmental education, and sustainable local employment, reinforcing both ecological and economic resilience.
Long-Term Vision
WACN’s vision for Sumu Wildlife Park is to restore a complete, self-regulating savanna ecosystem, where herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores coexist within a secure, well-managed landscape.
By rebuilding ecological complexity over time, Sumu Wildlife Park has the potential to play a critical role in northern Nigeria’s conservation future—supporting biodiversity recovery, strengthening regional security, and demonstrating what long-term, African-led ecosystem restoration can achieve.