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hectare forested enclosure housing a social group of red‐capped Mangabeys. A Natu re T ra i l wi th informative sign‐boards loops through the forest, round to the Mangabey viewing platform and back to the Education Centre. The f o r e s t immed i a t e l y surrounding the centre is home to wild Drills, Red Eared Guenons, Putty nosed Guenons and 6 species of nocturnal primate.
This striking setting provides the perfect opportunity to impart conservation messages about the wealth of biodiversity in the area, the importance and place of primates and other wildlife in the ecosystem, and the loss that non‐sustainable practices result in relative to community livelihood.
Thanks to IPS’s Larry J a cob sen Educa t i on Development award, CERCOPAN has been able to completely renovate the Rhoko education centre display area. New plywood boards were painted bright yellow for an eye‐catching background. Eighty five A3 and A0 waterproof ‘Dibond’ boards were then individually designed and shipped to Nigeria from the UK. In addition to themed boards on topics such as community conservation, the role of the rainforest,
and primate hunting and predation, a further set of boards on primate behaviour was designed specifically for the Mangabey viewing platform, allowing the children to observe the behaviour of the primates and then read about what they see.
The funds allocated for t h e C o m m u n i t y Conservation part of the grant were used to bring four schools to the centre before and after the renovation. Results from our questionnaires show that children spent on average 26 minutes in the education centre formerly, and this increased to 52 minutes following the refurbishment. All children found the education centre displays attractive after the refurbishment, but only 20% found it completely attractive before.
The children absolutely loved their experience at the new and improved centre. Daniel from Iko Esai stated “We will come back home and tell our parents how monkeys are important, and that they should help protecting the forest. I learnt more this time than few months ago, because the Education Centre is better now.” The IPS grant has demonstrably made a huge difference to our vital education programme.
C E R C O P A N ’ s environmental educational work includes a year‐round outreach programme to 8,000 students in schools, tours for over 17,000 visitors a year to our headquarters in Calabar, field trips for university students, and day‐out events for school children at the Rhoko education centre in the middle of the rainforest. All of CERCOPAN’s educational activities are free for those attending. As an NGO entirely reliant on donations and grants, these require funding each year for this vital work to continue. A 2010/ 2011 grant from The International Primatological So c i e t y ( I P S ) ha s transformed the Rhoko educational offering.
The Rhoko education centre is positioned on the western edge of the forest. Adjacent to the centre is a 1‐
I N S I D E TH I S
I S S U E :
First Class Upgrade
1
From the Director
2
Give me your Vulnerable
2
From a great height
2
Three‐peat Grant award
3
A new partner and a new home!
4
Volunteer your time for three
4
Hunting for answers
5
Renewed vows 5
Want to be a part of it ?
6
A P R I L / M A Y 2 0 1 1
First Class Upgrade
V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 4
CERCO‐NEWS
Before and
After at
Rhoko
Education
Centre
P A G E 2
Claire Coulson
CERCOPAN
Director
Give me your Vulnerable
From a great height
From the Director Our protection of
20,000 hectares of rainforest in Nigeria is written into the lease agreement we have with the community of Iko Esai who own the forest. The terms are updated every 10 years and have been subject to negotiations over many months of late (see final article).
The village Chiefs sought to increase the direct benefits that accrue to the village from conservation, while I sought to tighten up the community’s commitment to last ing forest conservation measures. Successive rounds of
bargaining brought fresh versions of requests, and so I was actually relieved when a new set of demands turned out to be for crates of Star beer, multiple litres of palm wine, and a cow. This meant that attention was turning to the lease signing party celebrations, so clearly agreement was just around the corner!
Another 10 ‐year renewal success is the upgrades just completed to Rhoko Education Centre (see cover). The beautiful hard‐wearing Dibond boards that carry our conservation message may in fact be around for 20
years. I drove myself and the team extremely hard as we designed the graphics and wrote the text for almost 90 boards with the thought in mind that we had only one chance to get them right. It took frequent iterations over many weeks before I could be confident to make the call that we were ready to print. At the point when the boards were up, with the Education Centre looking stunning, no negotiation was required over the celebrations!
habituated to their human companions, and release proved harder than initially thought. While their chances of release dwindled, their numbers multiplied, with Savanah the first addition to the family group followed early this year by Nyaki, named after her home.
Yelwa is a picturesque location 1,660m above sea‐level, and the
This month saw the arrival of four Tantalus monkeys. The group, originally rescued by primatologist Janette Wallis, was being looked after in Ngel Nyaki forest reserve, Yelwa, Taraba state.
Initially Jack and Audrey were taken on, and the plan had been to prepare the two for release. However, they had become
monkeys were kept in an enclosure that was regularly visited by wild Tantalus monkeys.
The monkeys arrived in Calabar in good health after a long two day journey by road, and they have quickly settled into their new enclosure. While not set on the edge of rainforest, their enclosure is more spacious with plenty of enrichment to keep them occupied.
These three orphans came from an expatriate staying near Warri, within the Niger Delta. He acquired the first about 6 months ago and the third as recently as 6 weeks ago.
All three had been purchased in local bush‐bars, so unfortunately their parents would have been shot by hunters for food. The first Sclater, Braylee, is an 8 month old
female. The second, Daxx, is a 6 month old male and the third Sclater, Baby Girl, is a 5 month old female.
All are in pretty good condition, although Baby Girl has lost the sight in her left eye. We have two other monkeys in our care that only have one eye, and that disability does not affect them, so Baby Girl should cope just fine.
This month saw the arrival of three new Sclater monkeys. Sclaters are a Vulnerable species only found in Nigeria. There are no protected forests within the species’ range, which is a concern for their long‐term survival.
It has been over five years since a Sclater was last surrendered into our care, so it was a surprise to get three in one month.
Baby Girl: now
in good care
Audrey and Nyaki
Three‐peat Grant award
P A G E 3
The In ternat iona l Primatological Society (IPS) promotes the conservation of all primate species around the world through research and education. IPS is one of our most loyal long‐term sponsors having just announced grant awards to CERCOPAN for the fourth year in a row.
Thanks to an IPS Captive Care grant, we can continue our strategy of replacing our a g e d t im b e r ‐b a s e d enclosures with ones made from galvanized pipe and mesh.
The grant will build a new enclosure for Red‐capped mangabeys to replace one of three that will not survive another rainy season, and therefore the grant could not be more timely.
We also received an IPS Conservation grant that will allow us to continue on a growth path of increased forest protection at Rhoko. In addition to six patrol staff now in the field, the Community Conservation a n d D e v e l o p m e n t Committee will provide further monitoring of, and reporting on, community forest activities through its Surveillance Team.
In particular it is vital that the Land Use Management Plan, which provides protection of primate habitat, is enforced.
The IPS Conservation grant will fund the costs of one patrol staff for a year to be assigned to the Surveillance Team to train them in patrol methods, p r i m a t e s p e c i e s
i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , dismantling of snares, and wildlife surveying. The grant will also provide a waterproof camera and machetes. A f u r t h e r ‘ C o n s e r v a t i o n through Community Involvement’ grant will allow the purchase of a GPS
unit, boots, and transportation costs for the CCDC team.
In the past, CERCOPAN has been entirely responsible for ensuring that the conservation a g r e e m e n t s made by the community are adhered to by everyone, with the organization’s employees reporting breaches and working alongside the village council on sanctions.
Now thanks to these grants we can see a more preferable solution coming into place, where the community supervises its own agreements to ensure that primates and forests are conserved in perpetuity.
V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 4
“….we can see a
more preferable
solution coming
into place, where
the community
supervises its own
agreements to
ensure that
primates and
forests are
conserved in
perpetuity”
A handheld GPS device
will now allow the
Surveillance Team to
enforce protected areas
The CCDC Surveillance
Team out mapping
Our new‐style enclosures are
based on galvanized pipe
Increased
protection for
Rhoko forest
P A G E 4
significant positive impact on her life. She will particularly remember with fondness attending a traditional Nigerian wedding and a church service in Iko Esai.
Ben, also from the UK but a life‐long globetrotter currently finishing his degree in international relations in the U.S., fulfilled his adventure quota during his 2‐week stay at Rhoko Camp. Ben came to CERCOPAN interested in NGO’s and conservation, and in learning about the depth and complexity of CERCOPAN’s work. Ben was additionally introduced to the tropical rainforest and all its mystery and beauty, as well as what it is like to live and work in a field camp under sometimes challenging conditions. Ben was fortunate to attend a formal meeting with the Iko Esai Chief’s Council, and enjoyed visiting a local kai kai distillery during his stay.
Short‐term volunteer Janice from Canada, who is in the process of a career change from health care to conservation biology, recently finished her 2‐month stay at Rhoko Camp. Janice spent time as a research assistant for several l ong ‐ t e rm vo lun tee r researchers in Rhoko, and enjoyed living and working in the rainforest immensely. She was also greatly impacted by village life in Iko Esai and the nearby village of Agoi, and is in the process of setting up a scholarship for girls of fatherless families in those villages. When asked what her favourite part of her CERCOPAN experience was, she replied, “Definitely the people!… and fried plantains with Nigerian beans…” Janice will deeply miss the great friends she made at CERCOPAN and in the villages, and will especially miss Obo, a Red‐capped Mangabey.
In the past month, CERCOPAN has enjoyed 3 volunteers from varying backgrounds offering their time and energy to both Rhoko Camp and Calabar headquarters.
Wo r k i n g h o l i d a y volunteer Rosie from the UK, who is beginning her studies towards becoming a veterinarian, participated as a research assistant in Rhoko Camp and helper to Calabar’s veterinarian during her eventful 3‐week stay. Rosie claims her time in Nigeria volunteering with CERCOPAN have made a
Volunteer your time for three
A new partner and a new home! The John Ball Zoo Society
is a highly welcome new sponsor of CERCOPAN.
We had written a proposal to them explaining the direct connection between primate care and the protection of the same species in the wild. This is due to the fact that the former provides the sanctuary that allows enforcement agencies in the state to confiscate orphaned monkeys from the bush‐meat trade, and thereby
reinforce federal laws banning the hunting of primates.
In awarding us a grant for 2011, the Society wrote us a very enthusiastic support note, clearly recognizing the benefits the project will bring to both non‐captive and captive primates.
Their funds will allow us to replace one of the Red‐c a p p e d m a n g a b e y enclosures that is now so old that it has been
requiring almost continuous repairs this year.
The Society, a non‐profit organisation that partners with the Zoo, operates a Wildlife Conservation Fund that has helped conserve wildlife and wild places in more than 30 countries around the world, in addition to the support they provide to the Zoo itself.
Further information about our new partner can be found at: www.johnballzoosociety.org
Janice, left, was
great company for
our longer‐term
stays
John Ball Zoo is in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
Carrie with the Agoi
hunters’ group
Claire with the Chiefs’
Council of Iko Esai
P A G E 5 V O L U M E 3 , I S S U E 4
Renewed vows
Hunting for answers Visiting Ph. D student
Carrie Vath is looking at local people's attitudes towards conservation, how they value their natural resources, and the patterns and practices of hunters. She has taken great care to build up trust with the hunters of Agoi, Iko Esai, and Owai (all groups enter Rhoko) so that they will feel comfortable with telling her the complete story of what hunting really goes on in the forest. Carrie tells us about her experiences to date:
“I have now been at Rhoko for 3 months and my project is going wonderfully well. The people have been welcoming, and excited to participate in my surveys. I am especially thankful for the cooperation of the hunters’ groups in each village. Every market day I
meet with 5 hunters from each village and we discuss where and what they have taken from the forest over the last week. They have also helped me pin down locations of chimpanzee, drill, mangabey, and forest elephants based on their personal sightings.
For my research to be successful I use local translators and have also trained CERCOPAN staff for the project. Arikpo (from Agoi) and John (from Owai) have been an integral part of the work by interviewing hunters during their weekly patrols in the research and conservation areas of the forest.
In early May I made my first visit to the village of Owai to meet with the Chief’s council and hunters’ group. I was impressed by the kindness of the people. I was
welcomed and quickly became friends with around 50 kids. The Clan Head was very supportive of my project and the hunter's were also willing to be interviewed.
I am finding out so many interesting things about how these three communities value their forests and the attitudes they hold towards conservation.”
initiated by Lord Mike, chairman of the FMC introducing the Nigerian attendees, and in response Claire introduced her CERCOPAN representatives.
The lease agreement was discussed by all the attendees and the document signed by Chief Etan (Clan Head), Chief Owai (Traditional Ruler), and witnessed by four CERCOPAN staff members.
As is the tradition in Nigeria cola nuts, an array of drinks and other offerings were supplied by CERCOPAN for the ceremony. The
traditional ruler poured libation to the ancestors. The offerings were then shared and enjoyed by the attendees as the new agreement was celebrated long into the night.
On 28th October 2000, a 99 year lease agreement was signed between CERCOPAN and the village of Iko Esai for Rhoko forest. Ten years on, and it was time for the first 10‐year renewal of the lease. The ceremony for the signing of the lease renewal was held in the palace of the Clan Head of Iko Esai.
The event was attended by all the village chiefs, various members of the community including members from the Forest Management Committee (FMC) and Community Conservation Development Committee (CCDC), along with representatives from CERCOPAN.
The ceremony was
“The people have been welcoming, and excited to participate in my surveys. I am especially thankful for the cooperation of the hunters’ groups in each village.”
All photos in this newsletter were taken at CERCOPAN or Iko Esai by staff, volunteers and visitors.
Photo Credits: © Copyright CERCOPAN 2011
Design & Layout by Claire Coulson; Written by Claire Coulson, Graham Brown Edited by Claire Coulson
WANT TO BE A PART OF IT?
• Stay in touch with our on‐going programme by bookmarking our home page http://www.cercopan.org/ and our Blog site http://cercopan.wildlifedirect.org/ and joining our Facebook fan page http://www.facebook.com/cercopan/
• Volunteer for CERCOPAN in either Nigeria or the UK. We offer a range of different programmes so there is something for everyone! Visit our website volunteer section for further details.
• Help CERCOPAN attain corporate funding. If you work for a corporate sponsor who may be interested in funding CERCOPAN please contact [email protected]
• Undertake a sponsored event to raise funds for CERCOPAN. Use the Fundraising Pack on our web site to help you.
• Make a cash donation to CERCOPAN via our website...every little helps!
• Buy a gift for friends or family from the Good Gifts Catalogue (www.goodgifts.org). You can buy a month's supply of fruit for growing CERCOPAN orphan monkeys ‐ called in the catalogue 'A‐peeling Monkeys' for only £20! The price of the gift is passed on to CERCOPAN. So, it is an excellent way of solving your gift problems, and supporting our work! Alternatively visit the CERCOPAN gift shop on our website today.
• Donate useful goods and equipment such as building and fencing materials, veterinary medicines, old laptop computers etc. or services such as printing, blood testing and architectural design.
www.cercopan.org http://cercopan.wildlifedirect.org
http://www.facebook.com/cercopan/