Wildlife

Wildlife

Gorilla Journal 33, December 2006
News from Nigeria
Third Cross River Gorilla Workshop CompletedWith funding from the WWF African Great Apes Programme, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Fauna and Flora International and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), an international "Action Planning for Cross River Gorilla Conservation" workshop and conference was held in Calabar, Nigeria from April 26 to 29, 2006. Hosted by WCS and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), this meeting built on partnerships and success from previous Cross River gorilla workshops held in Calabar, Nigeria in 2001 and Limbe, Cameroon in 2003. The meeting involved representatives from the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon, the Cross River State Government, as well as technical experts from local and international organizations and institutions. Based on a series of site-specific measures and recommendations arising from the workshop, an action plan for the conservation of the Cross River gorilla is now in preparation. The plan includes sections on the socioecology of Cross River gorillas, threats, population fragmentation, landscape ecology, ecotourism and gorilla habituation, the development of transboundary protected areas, legislation, education and awareness, community conservation and enclave management as well as monitoring and research needs.
Gorilla Census of Afi Mountain Wildlife SanctuaryA sanctuary-wide gorilla survey was conducted in June 2006 by the WCS as part of continued efforts to monitor gorillas in the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary. Since 2004 regular surveys have been conducted in the sanctuary to monitor ranging behaviour and to obtain a reliable estimate of population size of the Afi gorillas. Six teams surveyed the mountain over a period of 7 days, including staff from WCS and the Cross River State Forestry Commission (CRSFC) and experienced local gorilla trackers. Eleven gorilla nest sites were found although only 4 of these were judged to be "fresh" (1 to 3 days old). Data from this survey suggest the presence of at least 15 and perhaps as many as 27 gorillas on the mountain located in the northern and south-central sectors of the sanctuary. Evidence of other wildlife remains scarce although levels of poaching were observed to be considerably lower than in previous surveys. The reduced poaching is likely to be due to intensified anti-poaching activities in the sanctuary, supported by Fauna and Flora International (FFI) and NCF. Unfortunately, however, in spite of efforts to eradicate farms from within the sanctuary, encroachment remains a growing problem.
Crop Raiding by Gorillas: a Sign of Successful Conservation?In January 2006, WCS received reports of crop raiding by gorillas from Kakwagom Irruan and Bitiah, 2 of the 16 communities surrounding the Afi Sanctuary, located adjacent to the northern sector of the sanctuary. At least 6 farms were reported to have been raided and a number of stands of banana and plantain were destroyed. Although local people report that this is the first time in more than 20 years that farms have been raided in the area by gorillas, this incident has resulted in considerable tension within the communities concerned. It is not clear why some gorillas have exchanged the relative safety of the sanctuary for surrounding farmlands. It is known that gorillas routinely migrate to the northern sector of the sanctuary during the dry season, generally a period of food scarcity, to exploit particular plant species, but they have not been previously reported to have left the confines of the sanctuary. With farms extending ever closer to the boundaries of the sanctuary there is always an increased chance of gorillas straying onto local farms and raiding crops especially during periods of food scarcity. Reduced levels of hunting within the sanctuary, a result of intensified anti-poaching measures by a combined team of CRSFC rangers and community scouts, may have encouraged gorillas to roam further afield. Whatever the reason, the situation puts gorillas in the area at risk of reprisal, injury or even killing by aggrieved farmers and must be addressed urgently. In view of its importance to the conservation of the Afi gorillas, it is recommended that the CRSFC and NGO partners work with the local communities of Kakwagom and Bitiah to explore ways in which to improve the protection of these community forests.
Counting Gorillas in the Mbe Mountains: Genetic Analysis of Dung Between December 2005 and August 2006, WCS conducted 5 mountain-wide gorilla surveys of the Mbe Mountains. These surveys have focus-ed on the collection of gorilla dung for subsequent genetic analysis, from which it is hoped that a more accurate and reliable estimate of the population size of Mbe can be produced based on mark-recapture techniques. Survey methodologies used in the past have not been very effective in providing an accurate estimate of population size. If successful, this pilot study could be extended to Afi and Okwangwo where current estimates also need to be refined. A total of 88 dung samples were collected during the exercise and are already being analyzed by the laboratory of Todd Disotell in New York.
Renovating Research CampWith funds provided by Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthlife, WCS has almost completed the construction of a simple research camp in the Mbe Mountains, with only the roof now remaining to be completed. The camp will undoubtedly improve the living conditions of researchers and other visitors. The construction of the camp has taken rather longer than expected, as the difficult terrain meant that all building materials had to be conveyed up the mountain by porters. Using local labor for the construction of the camp did provide some much-needed, albeit temporary, employment opportunities.
Creating a Community Wildlife Sanctuary in the Mbe MountainsSituated between the Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and Cross River National Park, the Mbe Mountains are community-owned land and lack any formal protection status. The nine communities surrounding Mbe recently agreed to work together to create a protected area in the Mbe Mountains and are currently in the process of establishing the Mbe Mountains Conservation Association. In recent months WCS have been working with the 9 Mbe communities and the CRSFC to negotiate and provisionally demarcate the boundary of a core protected area in the mountains.
Inaoyom Imong and Andrew Dunn
With your donations we now started buying the material for a new ranger post at Bumaji. Hopefully the construction work can be started before the next rainy season starts. However, we still need more funds - every donation is welcome!
Photo: Andrew DunnThe new Mbe research station
Inaoyom Imong is working for the Wildlife Conservation Society in Nigeria.Andrew Dunn is Project Manager for the WCS biodiversity research program in southeastern Nigeria, having taken up his appointment in March 2004. He has been working on biological survey and conservation projects in Africa since 1989, with a special expertise in large mammal monitoring. On behalf of WWF he acted as conservation adviser to the Gashaka-Gumti National Park in Nigeria from 1995-2000 and as park adviser to Korup National Park in Cameroon in 2000-2003.