In Focus

05 December 2008 04:44 BST

Caught on camera

Despite two recent civil wars and habitat degradation in Liberia, endangered pygmy hippos have been found alive in one of the country's forests.

These creatures are among the most elusive and secretive large mammals on the planet.

They were listed on the Zoological Society of London's (ZSL) Edge programme as being in need of urgent conservation attention.

Conservationists captured photographic evidence of the pygmy hippopotamus using a network of camera traps set up in Liberia's Sapo national park.

The ZSL's Dr Ben Collen, who led the expedition, said: "The pygmy hippo is an extraordinary, mysterious creature that has almost never been seen in the wild.

"We set out to previously war-torn Liberia, one of the species' last refuges, to search for survivors.

"We were delighted to discover that a population still persists there, but remain highly concerned for the species, which continues to face significant threats from poaching and habitat degradation."

As well as the civil wars of 1989–1996 and 1999–2003, pygmy hippos have been put under threat from habitat degradation.

Stephen van der Mark, senior projects manager for Flora and Fauna International, commented: "Liberia's Upper Guinean forest ecosystem, where the pygmy hippo was photographed, is a major global conservation priority.

"Though unsustainable forestry and mining operations were especially devastating during the civil wars, they still pose a significant threat today.

"Only ten per cent of the original Upper Guinean forest is left of which Liberia contains about forty per cent. This new sighting gives us hope that, with a concerted effort, we can still protect the area's remaining biodiversity, including the charismatic pygmy hippo."