WESTERN CHIMPANZEE (PAN TROGLODYTES VERUS) IN SITU CONSERVATION THROUGH EDUCATION:

METHODS & IMPLICATIONS

Dalila FrassonConservation Manager

Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuarydalila.frasson@libero.it

VI Convegno Nazionale della Ricerca nei ParchiConoscere per proteggere

2-4 Ottobre 2015

CHIMPANZEES ARE ENDANGERED

Populations have declined by more than 66% in the last 30 years, from 600,000 to fewer than 200,000 individuals;

Pan troglodytes verus, the western chimpanzee is one of the two most endangered sub-species.

Kormos, 2003; IUCN, 2015

Wild chimpanzees are found only in tropical Africa;

WESTERN CHIMPANZEE’S SITUATION

Kormos et al. (2003); Campbel et al. (2008); Brncic et al. (2011) and Tweh et al. (2014)

HOW MANY CHIMPANZEES IN SIERRA LEONE?

Habitat No. of chimpanzees (%) Lower CI Upper CI

Non-protected area 3100 (55.6%) 1540 6341

Forest reserves 1460 (26.2%) 854 2509

OKNP* 1020 (18.2%) 658 1596

Sierra Leone Total 5580 3052 10446

* Outamba-Kilimi National Park 50 % Outside Protected Areas

Dalila Frasson – Conservation Manager -

Brncic et al. (2011)

SIERRA LEONE’S BIODIVERSITY

One of the 25 global biodiversity hotspots;

Western end of the Upper Guinea Forest Block;

NEAP, 2014

One of the 2 highest priorities for primate conservation in the world.

SIERRA LEONE BIODIVERSITY –NEAP (NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN)

NEAP, 2014

CHIMPANZEE CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

HELP IS AT HAND…

CHIMPANZEES STILL UNDER THREATS

Mining

Hunting

Farming

Logging

Human-Chimp conflict

CHIMPANZEES STILL UNDER THREATS

NEAP, 2014

Sierra Leone:mining area situation

WHERE ARE WE?

Dalila Frasson – Conservation Manager -

WHAT WE DO… CONSERVATION

Conservation education

Community outreach

Conservation research

CONSERVATION EDUCATION

Increased public knowledge of chimpanzees, the threats they face, and the importance of their protection;

Spread the law protecting chimpanzees.

Strengthened capacity to protect and conserve chimpanzees and their habitat;

HOW ACHIEVE THESE GOALS?

Education in schools both in rural and urban area;

Training and involvement of NGOs and Ministry;

Awareness sensitization campaign through different materials/methodologies.

CHIMPANZEE CONSERVATION &SENSITIZATION ACTIVITY (CCSP)

September 2005- August 2007

KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE & PRACTICE(KAP) SURVEY RELATING TO CHIMPANZEES IN SIERRA LEONE

Knowledge: 89% surveyed have knowledge of the difference between

chimpanzee and other primates; Few people were aware of any law protecting chimpanzees.

Attitude: Overwhelmingly negative; Very few knew their positive role for the environment and

that have the right to live in the forest; Threats like hunting > deforestation > farming; 1/3 is willing to buy a chimp (pet or domestic servant).

Survey of 600 persons

SENSITIZATION MATERIALS & METHODS

Different materials among

different target:

Billboard;

Sticker;

Poster;

Radio campaign.

House by house sensitization during Ebola outbreak due to institutional restriction regarding public gathering.

1. Great social animals;2. Very similar to human;3. Endangered;4. Ecological roles;5. Legislation & laws;6. Health risks.

RADIO CAMPAIGN

SENSITIZATION CAMPAIGN DURING EBOLA OUTBREA

SENSITIZATION CAMPAIGN DURING EBOLA OUTBREAK

RISK OF A SENSITIZATION CAMPAIGN

Risk of failing to positively effect behavioral changes;

From a cultural and religious point of view, certain messages referring to chimpanzees as mankind’s closest relatives may not be accepted;

The problem of the bush meat trade is prevalent. Promoting conservation of a species which is sometimes targeted for the trade could be met with passivism or even outright rejection;

Difficult moment due to Ebola outbreak.

HOW WE EVALUATE THE RESULTS?

Influences of human behaviours > require time due to traditions;

Interview pre and post campaign.

REALISTIC SET OF INDICATOR OF RESULTS

SHORT TERM

MID TERM

LONG TERM

INCREASE IN

AWARENESS

CHANGE OF ATTITUDE

PROMOTION OF ACTION

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION…

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