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The Red River Hog
© WCS |
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Market at Lamberene.
photo by Amy O'Donnell for AMNH |
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Gabon's savannah is relatively small, so its wildlife is less varied than that of other African countries. It is home to panthers, gazelles, some types of antelopes, monkeys, numerous birds, some herds of buffaloes, and of course snakes, reptiles and arthropods.
The forest is tremendously important source of food and medicine for the Gabonese. This is a typical market store in Lambaréné, on the lower Ogooué River, where Albert Schweitzer had his leprosy hospital. The bowls contain a variety of medicines obtained from natural sources, for treating malaria, infections, headaches, and fevers.
Reports are increasing that logging is taking place even in Gabon's five protected areas of rain forest. Along with tropical hardwoods such as mahogany and ebony, they contain okumé and ozigo -- tropical soft "veneer" woods used primarily in the production of high-quality plywood - on which Gabon has a near monopoly. Production of high quality veneers in southeast Asia is dropping, and the recent huge fires that in region will only stimulate demands.
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| The population is predominantly Bantu.
The Gabonese speak French, Fang, Myene, Bateke, Bapounou/Eschira, and Bandjabi.
Sixty-five percent of the 120,000-person salaried work-force work in agriculture. The timber industry employs half of the active population |
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