This transna­tion­al exten­sion (Benin, Burk­i­na Faso) to the W Nation­al Park of Niger, inscribed in 1996 on the World Her­itage List, cov­er a major expanse of intact Sudano-Sahe­lian savan­nah, with veg­e­ta­tion types includ­ing grass­lands, shrub lands, wood­ed savan­nah and exten­sive gallery forests. It includes the largest and most impor­tant con­tin­u­um of ter­res­tri­al, semi-aquat­ic and aquat­ic ecosys­tems in the West African savan­nah belt. The prop­er­ty is a refuge for wildlife species that have dis­ap­peared else­where in West Africa or are high­ly threat­ened. It is home to the largest pop­u­la­tion of ele­phants in West Africa and most of the large mam­mals typ­i­cal of the region, such as the African Man­a­tee, chee­tah, lion and leop­ard. It also har­bours the only viable pop­u­la­tion of lions in the region.