On Saturday, December 14, 2024, the city of Tai hosted the 2024 Edition of Hippo Day. The day kicked off with a caravan of over 200 schoolchildren singing and chanting “Hippo! No to deforestation!” slogans dedicated to the protection of the pygmy hippopotamus along the main thoroughfares of the town of Taï. Games, sports competitions (a soccer match for boys, a women's handball match), a drawing competition and a documentary film screening provided an opportunity to raise children's awareness of the protection of the Tai National Park (TNP), the behavior and ecology of this rare species, and the threats facing the pygmy hippopotamus, notably the destruction of their habitat, illegal gold mining and poaching.
Through this awareness-raising and environmental education activity organized with schools in the town of Taï, a positive dynamic has been initiated to encourage local community support for the protection of the pygmy hippopotamus. As key players in raising awareness, the children not only educate themselves, but also act as ambassadors to their families. From now on, they will educate their parents and relatives about the importance of safeguarding Taï National Park, the animal species that live there, and their invaluable contribution to the ecological balance and future of the community.
The 2024 edition was made possible thanks to and in collaboration with :
Hermann Digbeu/PhD