This document discusses conservation efforts for the endangered western chimpanzee subspecies in Sierra Leone through education. The Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary has implemented a conservation education program including sensitization campaigns using materials like billboards, posters, radio spots, and house-to-house visits during the Ebola outbreak. A survey before the campaign found most people were unaware of chimpanzee conservation laws while attitudes towards chimpanzees were overwhelmingly negative. The goal of education is to increase awareness, promote positive attitudes, and encourage protective actions for chimpanzees and their habitat over the short, mid, and long term. Evaluation of the program's results requires monitoring changes in human behaviors and attitudes over time.

1. WESTERN CHIMPANZEE
(PAN TROGLODYTES VERUS)
IN SITU CONSERVATION
THROUGH EDUCATION:
METHODS & IMPLICATIONS
Dalila Frasson
Conservation Manager
Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary
dalila.frasson@libero.it
VI Convegno Nazionale della Ricerca nei Parchi
Conoscere per proteggere
2-4 Ottobre 2015

2. 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;

3. WESTERN CHIMPANZEE’S SITUATION
Kormos et al. (2003); Campbel et al. (2008); Brncic et al. (2011) and Tweh et al. (2014)

4. 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)

5. 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.

6. SIERRA LEONE BIODIVERSITY –NEAP
(NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION PLAN)
NEAP, 2014

7. CHIMPANZEE CONSERVATION ANALYSIS

8. HELP IS AT HAND…

9. CHIMPANZEES STILL UNDER THREATS
Mining
Hunting
Farming
Logging
Human-
Chimp
conflict

10. CHIMPANZEES STILL UNDER THREATS
NEAP, 2014
Sierra Leone:
mining area
situation

11. WHERE ARE WE?
Dalila Frasson – Conservation Manager -

12. WHAT WE DO…
CONSERVATION
Conservation
education
Community
outreach
Conservation
research

13. 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;

14. 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.

15. CHIMPANZEE CONSERVATION &
SENSITIZATION ACTIVITY (CCSP)
September 2005- August 2007

16. 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

17. 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.

26. RADIO CAMPAIGN

27. SENSITIZATION CAMPAIGN DURING
EBOLA OUTBREA

28. SENSITIZATION CAMPAIGN DURING
EBOLA OUTBREAK

29. 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.

30. HOW WE EVALUATE THE RESULTS?
 Influences of human
behaviours >
require time due to
traditions;
 Interview pre and
post campaign.

31. REALISTIC SET OF INDICATOR
OF RESULTS
SHORT
TERM
MID
TERM
LONG
TERM
INCREASE
IN
AWARENESS
CHANGE OF
ATTITUDE
PROMOTION
OF ACTION

32. THANKS FOR
YOUR ATTENTION…
https://livingtacugama.
wordpress.com