CERCOPAN

Category: CERCOPAN staff fighting to save rainforest and endanger, Cercopan, Monkeys, Nigeria, Rain Forests, Saving endangered monkeys | Date: Feb 23 2009 | By: cercopan

CERCOPAN (Centre for Education, Research and Conservation of Primates and Nature: www.cercopan.org) is recruiting for an Office and Finance Manager to start early March 2009. This voluntary position involves managing the office and finances of a busy primate rehabilitation (over 150 primates of 6 rainforest species) and conservation project in southern Nigeria.We are looking for a self motivated team player who is flexible, takes pride in their work, amicable and able to cope well under stress.

Tags: africa, animal, Cercocebus torquatus, Cercopan, Cercopithecus erythrotis, Cercopithecus mona, Cercopithecus nictitans, Cercopithecus preussi, Cercopithecus sclateri, Conservation, endangered species, job, mona guenon, mona monkey, monkey, Monkeys, Nigeria, Nigerian wildlife, Preuss’s guenon, Preuss’s money, primates, putty-nosed guenon, putty-nosed monkey, rainforest, rare species, Red-capped mangabey, red-eared guenon, red-eared monkey, Sclater’s guenon, Sclater’s monkey, threatened species, volunteers, wildlife

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Category: CERCOPAN supporters saving rainforests and orphaned mon, Cercopan, Monkeys, Nigeria, Orphaned baby monkeys, Rain Forests, Saving endangered monkeys | Date: Feb 22 2009 | By: cercopan

Thank you very much Brigitta for your donation! It is very much appreciated. Here is a cute picture of two of our baby monas to brighten your sunday.

Best Friends Precious and Ikom.

Tags: africa, animal, Cercocebus torquatus, Cercopan, Cercopithecus erythrotis, Cercopithecus mona, Cercopithecus nictitans, Cercopithecus preussi, Cercopithecus sclateri, Conservation, donations, endangered species, mona guenon, mona monkey, monkey, Monkeys, Nigeria, Nigerian wildlife, Preuss’s guenon, Preuss’s money, primates, putty-nosed guenon, putty-nosed monkey, rainforest, rare species, Red-capped mangabey, red-eared guenon, red-eared monkey, Sclater’s guenon, Sclater’s monkey, supporters, threatened species, volunteers, wildlife

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Category: Cercopan, Monkeys, Nigeria, Rain Forests, Saving endangered monkeys | Date: Feb 20 2009 | By: cercopan

After almost 15 years at our Ishie Lane premises, CERCOPAN has been allocated 11 hectares of land overlooking the river at the University of Calabar! The University has kindly donated land near their Forestry and Wildlife Faculty for a new Rainforest Research and Education Institute. Once we are able to raise the funds needed, we hope to construct new spacious open topped enclosures for our monkeys, veterinary facilities, quarantine area, administration block, accommodation for visiting volunteers/researchers and education facilities (including a well stocked reference library).  

Possible design of new electric fence encosures for our monkeys

Nigeria currently lacks people trained in environmental disciplines with strong experience gained from field work. There are very few opportunities to learn in the field and generally university programs just do not include the subject matter needed to train people to effectively protect the environment. As a result, environmental projects tend to rely upon overseas consultants for expertise, a situation which is not sustainable in the long term. The new CERCOPAN Rainforest Research and Education institute will address this problem by providing opportunities for Nigerians to undertake environmental study both in the city centre institute, and at our Rhoko site only 2.5 hours away. Institute attendees will benefit by learning the skills needed to both evaluate and implement environmental and conservation projects, and hopefully the biological wealth of this beautiful country will be better protected as a result.  

 Claire, Jerry and Uche at the new site (land is to left of photo)

In addition to providing training for University students, we intend to offer training programs to State Government staff from both Forestry and Environment Departments (e.g. in identifying endangered species to allow the effective policing of wildlife laws etc.). Training will also be available for members of University staff to allow them to teach new techniques and courses to their students (we hope to do this by developing partnerships with international universities). 

As you can imagine, this is a very exciting time for everyone involved with CERCOPAN. Over the years we have tried to move on several occasions and have been faced with a number of setbacks. In the end, this opportunity was  more than worth the wait. Watch this space for developments over the coming months.   

Recently completed Survey of the new land now we just need to start building!

Tags: africa, animal, Cercocebus torquatus, Cercopan, Cercopithecus erythrotis, Cercopithecus mona, Cercopithecus nictitans, Cercopithecus preussi, Cercopithecus sclateri, Conservation, endangered species, mona guenon, mona monkey, monkey, Monkeys, Nigeria, Nigerian wildlife, Preuss’s guenon, Preuss’s money, primates, putty-nosed guenon, putty-nosed monkey, rainforest, rare species, Red-capped mangabey, red-eared guenon, red-eared monkey, Sclater’s guenon, Sclater’s monkey, threatened species, UNICAL, University of Calabar, volunteers, wildlife

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Category: CERCOPAN battles illegal loggers, CERCOPAN helping communities in Nigeria, CERCOPAN staff fighting to save rainforest and endanger, Cercopan, Monkeys, Nigeria, Rain Forests, Saving endangered monkeys | Date: Feb 13 2009 | By: cercopan

In a combined effort by the Cross River State illegal Logging Task force, Iko Esai Community and CERCOPAN, Illegal loggers have been expelled from the Iko Esai Community Forest. Sadly illegal logging activity throughout the state has been escalating rapidly over the last year and most of the wood has been exported outside the state (therefore not even benefitting the communities from which it came). In a bold attempt to curb this illegal activity, the Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke recently put in place the new task force and placed a moratorium on logging until such times that the problem can be brought under control and sustainable forest management implemented.

After being alerted to the presence of illegal loggers by witnessing a truck coming from one of the dirt tracks leaving the the forest, Richard (Rhoko Manager) retraced the route of the trucks and found that logging activity had been underway for several weeks deep inside the forest. Richard returned to the village and called Calabar to give me the news, but in the meantime the truck he had seen had been independently apprehended on the highway b(y an illegal logging task force road block) and the driver had informed the police that the wood had come from Iko Esai.

A disappointed Richard upon entering the forest and finding trees felled

A few days later, the task force travelled to Esai with the police. They were assisted by CERCOPAN staff and members of the community and were able to confiscate chainsaws, wood and equipment and to make an arrest.  The Illegal loggers were using falsified documents which claimed that they had community permission to extract wood from the site. To the converse, the community have actually begun court proceedings against the loggers in the past in response to similar attempts to enter and commercially exploit their forest.

Planks deep in the heart of the forest

Although the loggers have gone, we remain vigilant. They were only able to log a limited number of trees before being stopped, but as the potential profits are high, they may be tempted to return if they feel that our attention has been diverted elsewhere. We have already extended the range of our patrol to monitor a much larger area of the community forest. In the future, we hope to be able to hire additional patrol and extend radio range deep into the forest. Iko Esai community forest provides a buffer to the national park, it is home to chimpanzee, drill, elephant, buffalo and countless monkeys and in addition it provides food, medicine and shelter for local people. We must stand firm against each and every commercial logging attempt, if we cannot protect this forest, then the Cross River National Park will be next.  

 A baby Blue duiker, one of many animal species inhabiting the Iko Esai Community Forest

Tags: africa, animal, Cercocebus torquatus, Cercopan, Cercopithecus erythrotis, Cercopithecus mona, Cercopithecus nictitans, Cercopithecus preussi, Cercopithecus sclateri, Conservation, endangered species, illegal logging, mona guenon, mona monkey, monkey, Monkeys, Nigeria, Nigerian wildlife, Preuss’s guenon, Preuss’s money, primates, putty-nosed guenon, putty-nosed monkey, rainforest, rainforest destruction, rare species, Red-capped mangabey, red-eared guenon, red-eared monkey, Sclater’s guenon, Sclater’s monkey, threatened species, volunteers, wildlife

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Category: CERCOPAN helping communities in Nigeria, CERCOPAN staff fighting to save rainforest and endanger, CERCOPAN supporters saving rainforests and orphaned mon, Cercopan, Communities, Monkeys, Nigeria, Rain Forests, Saving endangered monkeys | Date: Feb 10 2009 | By: cercopan

A group of short-term volunteers arrived recently from Holland to provide the children of Iko Esai a brighter future – illuminated in blue, green and yellow to be precise. The group of seven came across our recently introduced “working holiday” program in which anyone interested can visit our forest site as short term paying volunteers to help with the various initiatives CERCOPAN carries out and gain a valuable experience working with a grassroots conservation NGO. As community development was something they were very keen on, the group combined their efforts to raise approximately USD$1200 before coming out, which is being used to fund the renovation and sprucing up of two schools in CERCOPAN’s host community, Iko Esai. So far they have almost completed cementing the floors in the Iko Esai Primary School classrooms, and the painting of the interior and exterior walls of Iko Esai Secondary School.

Their hard work each day does not go unnoticed, especially from the children who regularly gather around in large groups to watch the renovations in action. The floors that were previously composed of packed sand have now been transformed into smooth concrete surfaces, and the bare brick walls transformed from a dull repressive grey to bright and cheerful blues, greens and yellows. Though these and other renovations that are soon to be underway are very important, the most rewarding transformation will surely be the renewed motivation of the village children inspired by the generous donation of time, money and efforts from CERCOPAN’s most recent group of short term volunteers. Panting the school  

Do you want to help? Check out www.cercopan.org for more information about volunteering with CERCOPAN.

Enjoying a relaxing break in the river after all that hard work!

Tags: africa, animal, Cercocebus torquatus, Cercopan, Cercopithecus erythrotis, Cercopithecus mona, Cercopithecus nictitans, Cercopithecus preussi, Cercopithecus sclateri, community development, Conservation, endangered species, environmental education, mona guenon, mona monkey, monkey, Monkeys, Nigeria, Nigerian wildlife, Preuss’s guenon, Preuss’s money, primates, putty-nosed guenon, putty-nosed monkey, rainforest, rare species, Red-capped mangabey, red-eared guenon, red-eared monkey, Sclater’s guenon, Sclater’s monkey, short-term volunteers, threatened species, volunteers, wildlife

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Category: CERCOPAN staff fighting to save rainforest and endanger, Cercopan, Environmental education saving endangered primates, Monkeys, Nigeria, Rain Forests, Saving endangered monkeys | Date: Feb 08 2009 | By: cercopan

Im sure you have all read about Jerry in previous blogs. Jerry officially started at CERCOPAN as a part time education assistant on 5th February 1997, having completed his diploma in Environmental Education at the University Of Calabar. At the time, Jerry was instrumental in setting up CERCOPAN’s highly successful education program, which now reaches out to over 70 schools annually in Cross river State.

Jerry at Henshaw Town School

Jerry was later promoted to Education Officer in May 2002 and once again to Senior Education Office in November 2004. In 2007 his hard work and utter dedication to conservation and environmental education was rewarded when he won the  Charles Southwick Award fro Environmental Education from the International Primatological Society.

Jerry has now been promoted to Acting Operations Manager, and in conjunction with the Office and Finance manager will be managing day to day CERCOPAN operations in Calabar. I am sure you will all join me in Congratulating him, on this much deserved promotion. We are, as always, very proud of him.  

Jerry at World Environment Day 2006

Tags: africa, animal, Cercocebus torquatus, Cercopan, Cercopithecus erythrotis, Cercopithecus mona, Cercopithecus nictitans, Cercopithecus preussi, Cercopithecus sclateri, Conservation, endangered species, Jerry, mona guenon, mona monkey, monkey, Monkeys, Nigeria, Nigerian wildlife, Preuss’s guenon, Preuss’s money, primates, promotion, putty-nosed guenon, putty-nosed monkey, rainforest, rare species, Red-capped mangabey, red-eared guenon, red-eared monkey, Sclater’s guenon, Sclater’s monkey, staff, threatened species, volunteers, wildlife

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Category: CERCOPAN supporters saving rainforests and orphaned mon, Cercopan, Monkeys, Nigeria, Rain Forests, Saving endangered monkeys | Date: Feb 05 2009 | By: cercopan

In October, thanks to a generous donation from the UPS foundation, CERCOPAN was able to purchase a brand new Toyota Hilux. This couldn’t have come at a better time as our old trucks were just about to give up. Being at the mechanic shop for the better part of 2008 our old vehicles (2 other Toyota Hiluxes) were struggling to keep up the hard work required of a CERCOPAN vehicle. Making countless journeys over the past decade through the rough rainforest terrain these hardworking trucks have survived a lot of abuse and were in desperate need of a younger more agile model to come and take some of the load off them.

Claire and Richard with steaming broken down truck…now a thing of the past!

With this new vehicle at our disposal we have been able to put more time and effort into fixing up our old boys and also enhancing our ecotourism initiatives, now having more reliable transport to getting visitors up to our bush site. It has made the trip up to Rhoko more pleasurable for all parties involved with the smooth ride and complete lack of breakdowns, which usually blighted every trip. Amazing how something like a new truck can enhance so many aspects of the organization….and our lives. We cannot thank you enough UPS!

Our fabulous new truck!

Tags: africa, animal, Cercocebus torquatus, Cercopan, Cercopithecus erythrotis, Cercopithecus mona, Cercopithecus nictitans, Cercopithecus preussi, Cercopithecus sclateri, Conservation, donations, endangered species, mona guenon, mona monkey, monkey, Monkeys, Nigeria, Nigerian wildlife, Preuss’s guenon, Preuss’s money, primates, putty-nosed guenon, putty-nosed monkey, rainforest, rare species, Red-capped mangabey, red-eared guenon, red-eared monkey, Sclater’s guenon, Sclater’s monkey, support, supporters, threatened species, Toyota Hilux, UPS, volunteers, wildlife

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Category: Cercopan, Life, Monkeys, Nigeria, Saving endangered monkeys, love and friendship in monkeys | Date: Feb 01 2009 | By: cercopan

by Kristine Krynitzki

A new family has recently been brought together here at CERCOPAN and we all could not be happier about it. If you’ve ever seen a “second chance” episode of Oprah you’ll understand why. These episodes feature great people who have suffered from some terrible hardship and are then given a fantastic surprise that changes the course of their lives forever. I in particular, remember a show dealing with the rebuilding of houses for victims of Hurricane Katrina in the US. I remember vividly how I felt when I witnessed the renewed hope and strength on the faces of people who had suffered hardship. Well that’s a similar feeling we all here at CERCOPAN get when we pay a visit to the new mangabey group put together in one of our newly built enclosures.

After almost two months of construction, Abonema, Murphy and Osuwake (who you may remember from earlier blogs) joined with Emem, Jacob, and Nya (who were all animals that were struggling in other groups) in a new enclosure. The first three were ecstatic at the newly found space and luxuries they found themselves amongst, having spent the last few months in quarantine as new arrivals to CERCOPAN. Emem and Jacob also seemed delighted having been moved from our largest mangabey group where they had both been cast as low-ranking outsiders and were bullied by other members of the group. Nya had been moved several times over the years, having been bullied wherever she was placed and so it was a pleasure to watch her immediately settle into her new home and make friends. We had previously been forced to regularly separate all three animals from their groups during feeding to ensure that they were able to attain sufficient food, as the dominant animals would steal from them and limit their access to the most nutritious food (as would also be the case in the wild). Well not anymore. Now is a time of second chances. To the new group, each member has brought with them a special quality unique to themselves and together they have created an outstanding group dynamic. All animals eat well without the need for separation at meal times, they sleep huddled together, groom one another and play happily, no longer social outcasts. Nya seems to have adopted babies Murphy and Osuwake and the three are inseperable. Just a brief glance over their way and you can see the newfound happiness radiating from within. They truly are everyones favourite group and like Oprah, make absolutely compelling viewing.   

Murphy eating Moi Moi

Foraging in the new enclosure

Tags: africa, animal, Cercocebus torquatus, Cercopan, Cercopithecus erythrotis, Cercopithecus mona, Cercopithecus nictitans, Cercopithecus preussi, Cercopithecus sclateri, Conservation, endangered species, friendship, mona guenon, mona monkey, monkey, monkey life, monkey love, Monkeys, Nigeria, Nigerian wildlife, Preuss’s guenon, Preuss’s money, primate social structure, primates, putty-nosed guenon, putty-nosed monkey, rainforest, rare species, Red-capped mangabey, red-eared guenon, red-eared monkey, Sclater’s guenon, Sclater’s monkey, threatened species, volunteers, wildlife

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