I´m not sure if this should be on this forum or the World Forum - could SL please move the topic if I have put it on the wrong forum - thanks.

Blog - Omo-Shasha-Oluwa Forest Elephant Initiative
http://forestelephants.wordpress.com/2011/...sha-oluwa-blog/


Project Summary:
The Omo-Shasah-Oluwa Forest Reserves in Southwest Nigeria contain some of the last remaining forests in south-western Nigeria which harbor a remnant population of forest elephants. This area is being severely threatened by logging and over-hunting and studies show that this population of forest elephants is in danger of becoming extinct within five years.

This project will establish an elephant sanctuary in the remaining natural forest. The newly protected area will help ensure local livelihoods continue and be the first forest project in Nigeria to access carbon credits.
http://www.sizeofwales.org/project.html?id=51


PDF Project Progress Report Jan 2010-May 2011:
http://www.elephantconservation.org/downlo...0May%202011.pdf

The project is supported by Paignton Zoo, Devon UK:

Nigerian Conservation Education

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park and the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust support conservation in the Omo Forest by providing funding for two educators and a ranger as part of the Omo – Shasha – Oluwa Forest Project. The educators visit all the primary schools within the area and teach the children about the importance of the forest and environmental issues. They also run a conservation club that raises awareness amongst the local community. The ranger keeps the forest camp clear and acts as a guide to visitors and researchers.

http://www.wwct.org.uk/nigeria.php


Link to the latest news of the Omo-Shasha-Oluwa Forest Elephant Inititative:
http://forestelephants.wordpress.com/autho...forestelephant/


Paignton Zoo houses one African elephant, Duchess (40), who has "a mature cataract causing blindness in the right eye and an immature cataract in the left, where there is still some vision."
http://thedevonweek.newsandmediarepublic.o...t-paignton-zoo/

Paignton Zoo project captures rare forest elephant on film

Sue Lowe went on: “The bad news is that the cameras also captured images of people illegally entering the area. We still have a lot of work to do to protect the forest and its animals from logging and poaching. But at last we have photographic evidence of elephants in the Omo Forest – evidence which could really help us secure much-needed funding from grant-giving bodies.”


http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/Paignton...tail/story.html

Thank you for posting this hopeful news, SL.
I had missed it when I checked up on the zoo's website yesterday evening - hoping for an update about dear Duchess.

It showed up in my google news alerts.