town, west-central Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), at the intersection of major north-south and east-west routes. It is the chief collecting point for a forest region that sends coffee, cocoa, kola nuts, and timber (sipo) to the coast for export. Daloa is also a local trade centre for rice, cassava, yams, bananas, and cotton and has several sawmills, a rural technical institute (1967), and a regional office of the Department of Agriculture. It is the seat of a Roman Catholic bishop and several Protestant churches. Originally founded by two Africans, Gboto (of the Bete tribe) and Dalo (of the Guro), the town became a French military post in 1903. The Bete and Guro (Kouéni) peoples are still the most numerous, but the town has also attracted large numbers of Baule (Baoule), Diula (Dioula), and Mossi immigrants. Ebony and ivory sculptures are exhibited at the local craft centre. Nearby is Marahoué Park, a 250,000-acre (101,000-hectare) wildlife reserve. Pop. (2005 est.) 215,100.