Don't put your expectations too high - I don’t want to disappoint you!Though I am in Africa, you will not find stories or pictures of the usual, well-known big African mammals here, like lions or giraffes or rhinos.In Ghana, in the part where I am staying, the rain forest is the predominating natural vegetation, not the savannah which is usually popping up in our minds when thinking of Africa and wildlife.The rain forest is one of the biodiversity hotspots of the earth, meaning that a large number of different plant and animal species is at home there. This is one of the reasons why it is so important to protect it and to keep it intact.Though I am here for 9 weeks already, I didn't see many animals yet. And this eventhough my research involves looking for animal signs on the cocoa farms!
Of the animals whose traces I am taking note of nearly every day I actually only saw two yet: a squirrel and a bush rat.
The first encounter with a squirrel was at the Visitor Center of the park where I was staying at the guest house for some time. It was a very curious animal, coming really close. I was surprised and later I learned that this was Charly, the trusting squirrel of the Children's Park.

In the same place, but on another day and in the evening when it was already dark I saw the bush rat. They are leading a dangerous live, especially when so close to human settlement, because they are a welcome addition to many family dinners.Squirrels I now also saw in the wild.
Bigger mammals are well hidden in the forest. But on some farms I was actually following traces of forest elefants.

That was a strange feeling,  to know that these majestic and just huge animals had been here, maybe three weeks before me. I would really like to see them in their natural habitat, but from a safe distance. A meeting with them is very dangerous for humans. Farmers were often saying that they feel fear and them being a threat to their lives. Nevertheless it is important to protect them, since their habitats are shrinking more and more,  everywhere in the world. This happens mainly due to the encroachment of human settlements in areas that were undisturbed before. It is a matter of urgency to find ways for humans and wildlife to live peacefully next to each other. Because, as I mentioned in my first post, we are not only sharing the world with one each other, with other humans, but also with every other living being. We have to be aware that our actions may not only influence ourselves, our lives, but also the lives of an enormous number of other creatures. Creatures that have mostly been here longer than we have and that have the same right to live.Some other interesting encounters I had were with a small snake and a turtle. The turtle was right in one of the squares I was examining for my research but it took me some time to actually discover it. It is well camouflaged on the ground fitting in with the colours of the leaves.

Aside from that I see many many frogs. When walking over the cocoa farms you see them jumping away everywhere. Them and some grasshoppers. Also geckos and colourful lizards are daily companions.

The other thing are the spiders... Since I am not following the paths but walk cross-country over the farms I am also running into spiderwebs a lot. This was a big issue for me at the beginning but I am ok with it now. I actually try to have someone walking before me. But the spiders are not frightening or disgusting me as the ones at home do. They have bigger bodies with a shield on their back and you don’t see the legs. That is helping a lot.One time I saw a dead scorpion on a street, and that was when I realised: Yes, you are in Africa, there are many insects and snakes and animals in general that can be dangerous and that are so different from the ones you are used to! I sometimes forget that, during the daily routine you see all the differences but forget what they mean.