CERCOPAN

Category: Cercopan, Communities, Conservation, Education, Introduction, Monkeys, Nigeria, Rain Forests | Date: Dec 11 2007 | By: admin

This is me, Claire Coulson, Deputy Director transferring Mickey and Big Qua to their outdoor enclosure.

CERCOPAN is dedicated to primate conservation through the rehabilitation of endangered primates, environmental education, forest protection, and research. CERCOPAN’s Director Zena Tooze, founded the project in 1995.

Based in Calabar, Cross River State, CERCOPAN is now a non-governmental non-profit organisation with charity registration in the UK and in progress in Nigeria. The forest site at Rhoko (near the host community of Iko Esai) is a Centre for Research, Education and Conservation and isnow also growing ecotourism destination.

FOREST CONSERVATION

CERCOPAN has secured the protection of over 20,000 hectares of tropical rainforest in partnership with the local community—Nigeria has lost over 90% of its rainforests and more than half of the remaining 10% is found within Cross River State. These forests, along with those in Southwest Cameroon, are collectively known as the “Cross River Rainforests”, and are regarded as one of Africa’s 5 forest biodiversity hotspots.

RESCUE AND REHABILITATION OF FOREST PRIMATES

Mona monkey mottie when he arrived on 05/03/07

Mottie on 12/04/07 after only one month of care at Cercopan

CERCOPAN has over 150 primates of 6 different species in various stages of rehabilitation, most of them orphaned by the bush meat trade. Three of these (the Sclater’s guenon, Preuss’ guenon and the red-eared guenon)are endangered and only found in this region of Africa. They represent the future for /in situ /captive breeding in these highly endangered primates. These primates serve as a focus for education, and act as ambassadors for conservation.

Due to the illegal bushmeat trade combined with CERCOPAN’s very successful education campaign, more and more primates enter the gates of CERCOPAN every month. Consequently the primate rehabilitation facilities at Rhoko and Calabar are full. CERCOPAN plans to expand their facilities on a new site, building more enclosures and a larger education centre in the near future to meet this demand.

On the 1st November 2007 history was made by CERCOPAN. 3 Mona guenons were released (with radio tracking collars) into the core protected area at Rhoko, our forest site where biodiversity and primate research is carried out. These were the first ever primates to be released in West Africa (and our research assistants are following them and collecting data). This exciting data will help with subsequent releases CERCOPAN is planning over the next few years.

EDUCATION

Education is an integral and vital part of our programme, both in rural and urban environments. Each term we conduct outreach programmes in over 50 schools and 2 universities. Conservation Clubs are functioning in 4 schools and 2 universities. CERCOPAN also has a Calabar-based conservation club since 2003 comprising of over 25 members. The group consists of highly motivated and interested students from secondary schools in Calabar. CERCOPAN receives over 30,000 visitors a year at Calabar and Rhoko. Depending on the age and understanding of the visitor, the goal is for visitors to take away a few simple messages about conservation and primates.

Senior Education Officer, Jerry teaching children about the importance of conservation

COMMUNITY CONSERVATION THROUGH DEVELOPMENT

We firmly believe in working closely and cooperatively with our host community and their neighbours. CERCOPAN strives to ensure excellent community relations through a regular community newsletter and the employment of several staff dedicated to community development including a Community Programme Officer, Education Assistant and Small Scale Micro-enterprise advisor. In addition, twenty one of our thirty five Nigerian staff are from Iko Esai.

CERCOPAN has begun working with three main target groups in the community; women, youths and hunters, helping them to earn an alternative income. These micro-enterprises will include activities such as snail farming, bee keeping, bread making and basket weaving and will be at a very local, low cost level providing a source of food for the community.