I want to first say hello and thank CERCOPAN for having me here at Rhoko Camp.  I am a student from Oxford Brooks University (UK) working on my Masters in Primate Conservation.  The Community of Iko Esai and CERCOPAN have been working for many years now to help save their resident monkeys.  I heard about the wonderful work and wanted to come and support this.  Much has been said about the mangabey and guenon monkeys living at Rhoko.  I however, came to study the other primates that live here.  Did you know there are many species of primates that are wild in the forest and only came out at night? Not many people have ever seen these animals, as they come out when everyone is asleep.  I will be spending my two months at Rhoko going out with night patrol and looking at bush-babies, pottos, and angwantibos.  They have large eyes that can be seen at night with a torch.

The bush-baby, one of Rhoko’s nocturnal primates

So far, I have only been here for two weeks and have found many animals! Each night brings new discoveries.  It is important to help conserve these forests because they are home to many species, and not just the ones we see during the day.  I look forward to learning much more about these primates, the forest, and the people who help protect it.

Leah and her Research Assistant Osam

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