Found only on the island, the Zanzibar Red Colobus Monkey is thought to have evolved independantly of it's mainland cousin after Zanzibar seperated from the continent after the last ice age.
Jozani Forest
Zanzibar's first and only National Park is located in Jozani Forest, the largest area of mature forest found on the island. The forest lies in a shallow trough in a fossil coral bed between the mangrove filled bays of Chwaka and Uzi. Seasonal flooding, and a high water table, have given rise to a unique groundwater forest. With mangrove forests and salt-marshes to the north of the National park, the area is an extremely rich mosaic of Zanzibar's diverse natural habitats, a haven for much wildlife, including rare, endemic and endangered species.
The National Park’s primary purpose is the conservation of the forest and its surrounding environment. This is achieved in partnership with local communities who host and participate in activities such as educational lectures and outings and mangrove replanting.
Originally funded through international donors, these activities are now paid for through the revenue generated by admission to the National Park.
About ˝ a mile south of the National Park centre, a mangrove boardwalk begins under the shade of an old tamarind tree. The brackish water that flows through the mangrove is a nursery ground for hundreds of species of tropical fish, which can be seen feeding in the shallow waters, whilst crabs and other sea creatures can be seen feasting in the nutrient rich mud.
Perhaps one of the most famous and endearing residents of the Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park is the Zanzibar Red Colobus monkey, also known as Kirk's Red Colobus after Sir John Kirk (1832-1922), the British Resident of Zanzibar who first brought it to the attention of zoological science. Found only on the main island of Zanzibar, the Zanzibar Red Colobus is recognized as a separate primate species (Piliocolobus kirkii) and is said to be endemic to Zanzibar. A visit to Zanzibar is not complete without seeking out one of the rarest monkeys in Africa, whose population is less than 2000.
Tours of this unique wooded ecosystem are worth planning when visiting Zanzibar. Visit the Mama Mtondoo (the Mother Mahogany tree), thought to be over 200 years old. See "the two trees in one" - the strangler fig and its partner the sycamore fig, or view the raffia fern which boasts the largest leaf in the world!
Also keep an eye out for some of the 100 species of butterfly that inhabit the forest - some as big as a hand, and the small, but brightly colored sunbirds that feed on nectar from the many, beautiful tropical flowers found here. Listen for the eerie booming and cackles of Syke's monkeys and the Zanzibar Red Colobus monkey.
With a bit of luck you could join the few to encounter the Zanzibar leopard. It is thought to have evolved in isolation from the African Leopard since at least the end of the last ice age, when the island was separated from mainland Tanzania by rising sea levels. The founder effect and adaptation to local conditions produced a smaller leopard than its continental relatives and one which “changed its spots”, or rather saw its more numerous rosettes partially disintegrate into spots. Increasing conflict between people and leopards in the 20th century led to their demonization and determined attempts to exterminate them. Efforts to develop a leopard conservation program in the mid-1990s were shelved when wildlife researchers concluded that there was little prospect for the animal's long-term survival. Some believe this leopard is already extinct, but there are still reports of a sighting now and again by the locals.
With the same luck you may spot the elusive Ader's duiker (Cephalophus adersi), a small deer-like forest dweller and one of several species found only on Zanzibar Island. Only a relict population survives on Zanzibar Island and this small population continues to dwindle as a result of habitat destruction and uncontrolled hunting despite being protected by Zanzibar law.
