Europeans who followed wanted to plant their first ... appreciation of Bioko’s unique biodiversity. Further thwarting conservation efforts is a burgeoning offshore oil industry.

“Since the oil boom on Bioko Island that started in 1994, there are people moving to this place, both from mainland Equatorial Guinea and foreign countries, and have developed a taste for bushmeat.

Treading water and barely able to open my eyes in what felt like a constant driving rain, I craned my neck upwards trying to guess the height of the ledge above. I was under a cascade of water ...