which subsumes the Messalo estuary (the hot spot of biodiversity), has rich marine vegetation, apart from mangroves, such as sea grass meadows. The wild life, in the mostly uncharted region of the coastal zone, includes marine wildlife comprising turtles and dugongs in large numbers. Wildlife found consists of elephant, buffalo, various antelope (waterbuck, eland, greater kudu, sable, suni, oribi, duiker), pigs and primates, elephant shrew, predators such as hyena, leopard, wild dog (in packs of 20 or more), lion (in large numbers of 2000 or more); African elephant and the wild dog species are categorized as 'endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals. Elephants, black rhinoceros, impala, zebra, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, wildebeest, cheetah and reedbuck, though reported in the past, await reconfirmation. The coastal zone does not have any human population within its limits, except for a few villages along the stretch of main road to Mocimboa de Praia (Macomia-Mocimboa road) bordering the project boundary. Fishing is an important vocation for the people living in the estuary, though "Transient fishermen" competing with them in this economic activity is a disadvantage. Molluscs and crustaceans are gathered by women in the intertidal zone for their consumption. Sea cucumbers are also harvested and dried for commercial sale. White lime or building material is produced by using specific varieties of gastropods (Chicoreus ramosus, Fasciolaria trapezium). References Rivers of Mozambique