# Yankari National Park

> Yankari is a 2,244 km² wildlife reserve in south-central Bauchi State, north-east Nigeria, created as a game reserve in 1956 and holding national park status from 1991/92 to 2006. It shelters Nigeria's largest surviving elephant population — estimated at 100–150 animals — alongside one of only two known remaining Nigerian lion populations, and features the 31°C Wikki Warm Spring.

**Category:** Travel & Tourism · **Updated:** 2026-07-26 19:36:35 · **Canonical:** https://nigeriastuff.org/a/yankari-national-park

## Key facts
- **Location:** South-central Bauchi State, north-east Nigeria
- **Area:** 2,244 km²
- **Established:** Game reserve, 1956; national park 1991/92–2006; reverted to Bauchi State game reserve since 2006
- **Co-management:** Bauchi State Government with Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), since 2014
- **Elephant population:** Estimated 100–150 (WCS); no full census published since GPS-collaring began in 2019
- **Lion population:** One of only two known remaining lion populations in Nigeria (WCS, 2019)
- **Wikki Warm Spring:** Constant 31°C; c. 200 m long, 13 m wide, 1.9 m deep

## Sources
- Yankari Game Reserve — Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Nigeria (https://nigeria.wcs.org/Wild-Places/Yankari-Game-Reserve.aspx)
- Six Elephants Fitted with GPS/Satellite Collars in August/September to Further Reinforce Ongoing Protection Efforts in Yankari Game Reserve — Wildlife Conservation Society Newsroom (https://newsroom.wcs.org/News-Releases/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/13133/Six-Elephants-Fitted-with-GPSSatellite-Collars-in-AugustSeptember-to-Further-Reinforce-Ongoing-Protection-Efforts-in-Yankari-Game-Reserve.aspx)
- Final Progress Report — Nigeria (African Elephant Fund) — African Elephant Fund / IUCN Species Survival Commission African Elephant Specialist Group (https://www.africanelephantfund.org/sites/default/files/2024-08/Final-progress-report_Nigeria_0.pdf)
- Wikki Warm Spring, Yankari National Park — Google Arts & Culture (https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/wikki-warm-spring-dayo-adedayo/fAFnjeOiISFfXQ?hl=en)
- About Us — Nigeria National Park Service, Federal Ministry of Environment, Housing & Urban Development (https://nigeriaparkservice.gov.ng/about-us/)

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