1. CERCO‐NEWS
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 M A R C H 2 0 1 1
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Birder’s paradise 1
Birder’s paradise
We’ve always been very found. The field station
From the 2
proud of Rhoko forest both itself is located in
Director
as a nature‐lover’s primary lowland forest
destination, but also as an that contains a mixture
Report time 2 outstanding site for of West African and
ecological research. Visits Congo forest birds.
from knowledgeable From my perspective
Needs replacing 2 specialists continue to the main attraction is
confirm the exceptional the nearly complete
quality of the forest. Dr. bird community present
Scott Robinson is Professor in the ‘core area’ that
Hunting for 3
of Ecosystems Conservation surrounds the field
hunters
at the University of Florida, station.
and he joined us for a brief, All of the large
Like Columbus! 4 but very active visit in hornbills are present
March. Here he takes up the and most are
story: exceedingly abundant, a
‘I visited Rhoko to help sure sign of an intact
New kid, old hand 4 my graduate student start bird community. More than during the mid‐day lull when
her programme, and to 50 hornbills flew over just as nothing is singing. All you
explore sites for future I began writing this note. have to do is find a flock and
Full bore ahead 5 research projects. I am also a Black guineafowl are follow it for an hour or two
birdwatcher, so I couldn't routinely seen near the field and you will be certain to
resist the temptation to station as well, although I see dozens of species. One
spend some time looking for did not see them myself this flock I followed had at least
Strength in 5
diversity new birds on this my first time. 37 species! Many other bird
trip to this part of the world. Most of the birds in the species gather at ant
My specialty is bird forest seem to hang out in swarms to eat the insects
Want to be a part 6 community ecology and I mixed‐species flocks, which flushed by the ants.
of it ?
was very excited by what I are amongst the most There is an excellent and
amazing I have ever well‐maintained trail system
seen in my research. In that enabled me to walk for
these flocks some hours without any risk of
species seem to getting lost. The field station
Scott paid his specialize in catching itself is comfortable and well
respects in the insects flushed by other run. There is a mix of
birds in exchange for researchers and a dedicated
village to Chief Owai
giving loud alarm calls staff from various villages
that warn the members nearby and from other parts
of the flock (the of the world.
‘beaters’) when Primate research is what
predators attack. got this place started, but
These flocks are easy to there is outstanding
find, which makes bird potential for bird watching
watching excellent, even and bird research as well.’
2. PAGE 2
From the Director
Where do you go in For me, my long times national conference, all
your mind when you want spent in the field were came to the surface in the
to get away from it all? especially satisfying past month above my
The beach? Shopping? The because my profession planning, coordination,
ski‐slopes? For me it’s and my hobby were one and management duties.
always the rainforest. and the same thing. These are highly satisfying
After years of fieldwork But as the Director of a tasks to be fully engaged
deep in the heart of conservation organisation, in, as ultimately I know
pristine jungles I know I now delegate the they all have an important
there’s no place where I fieldwork, as I have to role to play in bringing
can feel more at ease with ensure that my experience about the protection of
myself and my is used in an oversight the rainforest that I love.
Claire Coulson
surroundings. function where I can make But isn’t there time for
CERCOPAN
Director
So I have to admit more of a difference. relaxing journeys into the
feeling a pang of, dare I That oversight role can rainforest? I wish…. for
say it, envy for those who be very varied and at now those opportunities
have recently been able to times really quite will still just have to be in
spend quality time in consuming. Recruitment, my mind!
Rhoko either to indulge a fundraising, completing
hobby (see lead article) or our Annual Report, and
for their professions (p. 3). coordinating an inter‐
Report time
Our 2010 Annual readers of CERCO‐NEWS
Report has been published you will have seen the
and is available for news as it happened.
download from our The ‘About CERCOPAN’
website: section at the beginning
www.cercopan.org will give you a quick
The heart of the report overview of how our
is devoted to a description programme integrates
of our programme together, and just how
activities for the year in vital it is.
community development We have a detailed
“...we are very
& forest protection, financial report near the
keen to welcome primate conservation & end, and finally a Thank
anyone with good rehabilitation, and You page for our sponsors
DIY skills who can education. For regular – YOU!
volunteer time
with us...”
Needs replacing
We bid farewell to two Dallas Buleziuk has with the luxury tourist
of our long‐term been our Construction accommodation h e
volunteers on the same Coordinator since June painstakingly built in Rhoko
day in March. Rachel 2010, which has involved with the attention of a
Hemingway had been with a variety of tasks from craftsman.
us since February 2010 in overseeing the building of C o n s t ru c t i o n a n d
the role of Community a pig‐sty to fine‐tuning maintenance work is
Conservation Manager, our solar equipment to constantly required in our
primarily working on the managing the delivery of operation, and we are very
Eco‐lodge by Dallas alternative livelihoods a new roof for our keen to welcome anyone
programme in Iko Esai and Community Centre. with good DIY skills who
Agoi. Her replacement has Dallas leaves behind a can volunteer time with us
arrived (see below). lasting record of his stay to fill this gap.
3. VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 PAGE 3
Hunting for hunters
The more remote purposes of their research, taste of Periwinkle which we
corners of Iko Esai’s and have just returned from gladly accepted.
community forest have long a joint reconnaissance trip, On day 2 we
been the subject of accompanied by encountered two more
speculation. In the map CERCOPAN’s patrol. Carrie putty‐nosed troops and
below, the Research Area in reports: found forest elephant Carrie and Sagan setting
green and the Conservation ‘Sagan and I were footprints and dung! out with patrol
Area (white to the south excited for our 4 day trek
between the two rivers) are into the Conservation Area ‐
a 1‐2 day trek from the a first for both of us. Sagan
village and therefore less was interested in checking
attractive to hunters. On the out potential red‐capped
other hand with 24‐hour mangabey release sites
patrolling to enforce the (part of her dissertation
ban on hunting primates research) and I wanted to
centred on the Core Area scope out the hunting sheds
(brown), it might be possible and mingle with hunters as
that hunters would part of my research project.
deliberately choose the
The forest was amazing
remoter areas.
and our three guides (newly
In the last two years hired patrol from Agoi and
thanks to grants from IPS Owai), Arikpo, Nelson, and
and IUCN we have been John provided excellent At our next shed we
able to survey this region to food and care throughout shared the stay with 2
understand the primate the 40km trip. different hunters and they
diversity better, and also offered us cooked
“On the first day
On the first day we
increase the amount of
heard a troop of putty‐ procupine. We were also we heard a troop of
patrolling there. Now in putty‐nosed
nosed monkeys shouting offered roasted snails which
2011 with our patrol staff
alarm calls at us and we also tasted just like beef jerkey. monkeys shouting
numbers at six, we can
saw evidence of red river The porcupine was served in alarm calls at us
make frequent excursions
hogs. At our first sleeping a soup so although and we also saw
for both purposes.
shed we were joined by 8 everyone tells me it tastes
Recently‐arrived Ph. D other people (2 hunters, 4 very sweet it only tasted of
evidence of red river
students Carrie Vath and women collecting wild palm oil (the soup’s base) to hogs.….. On day 2
Sagan Friant will be making salad, and 2 boys collecting me. I had a wonderful time we encountered
many trips into the periwinkle). The women and look forward to my next two more putty‐
Conservation Area for the offered me and Sagan a forest adventure!’ nosed troops and
found forest
elephant footprints
and dung! ”
Iko Esai’s Land Use
Management Plan
showing the Research
and Conservation
Areas to the East
4. PAGE 4
Like Columbus!
Our veterinary function And at the same time orphaned pets to go to.
is right at the front line of our work with enforcement
On this basis, grants to
our programme. Assuring agencies to confiscate pets
underwrite our vet work are
excellent health care for our orphaned by the bush‐meat
some of the first we hope to
captive primates is an trade allows us to drive
gain each year.
absolute requirement if we home the message about
are to continue to attract compliance with the law Columbus Zoo have just
>17,000 visitors a year who banning the hunting of informed us of a generous
we provide with a vital monkeys, thereby grant for 2011 that will
conservation educational improving protection of wild cover the greater share of
message. populations. the vet programme for the
year, and sustain our long‐
But we would
term strategy of building the
be unable to
capacity of local talent
take these
through international
steps if we
veterinary mentoring.
did not have
a sanctuary Columbus Zoo are one of
and first‐class our most loyal supporters,
assured care having also provided grants
for the in 2008 and 2010.
New kid, old hand
BenJee Cascio has just were under the Peace Corps active participation in the
arrived in Iko Esai to take programme, involving living football game every
over the role of Community within a rural community evening.
Conservation Manager, and with irregular power, no BenJee has experience
it’s hard not to think that all piped water and only basic with alternative livelihoods
his life to date has been a provisions, and he tells us it projects, and knowledge of
preparation for this role. soon became his second the role and importance of
Raised in Minneapolis, home. Community‐Based Organi‐
he gained a Bachelors in Quickly settled into Iko sations. Both of these
Psychology, and a Masters Esai (where there is no structures are established in
in Community Develop‐ power at all!) BenJee has Iko Esai, but need an
ment. And with a love for taken no time to begin experienced hand to help
travel, BenJee has already building the foundations of them to continue and
worked overseas in China, a long‐standing relationship flourish, and be replicated
Ghana, Chile, and Jamaica. with community members, in the neighbouring villages.
The two years in Jamaica starting of course with We can already vouch
for the fact that BenJee is a
talented Blues and Jazz
musician, and also well‐
versed in the West African
music scene. With his guitar
in trail, here’s expecting for
BenJee during his a very interesting and
time in Jamaica popular cultural exchange
happening right now deep
within the far reaches of
Cross River State.
5. VOLUME 3, ISSUE 3 PAGE 5
Full bore ahead
Hot on the heels of our community welfare.
article in January The CCDC, with support
celebrating a year of from our Community The existing
achievements for the Conservation Manager, wrote borehole is at
Community Conservation the application to the MPP9 full capacity
and Development programme. An existing
Committee (CCDC) in Iko borehole in the village,
Esai, they have quickly provided by Concern Universal
notched up another success was insufficient for the
by gaining a grant from community’s needs, especially
MPP9 (Micro Projects in the dry season.
Programme in the 9 Niger MPP9 has approved a
Delta States). modern size borehole
MPP9 is a European powered by solar energy.
Union initiative that Officials of MPP9 visited Iko
provides around two thirds Esai and inspected the
of funds for projects, with readiness for the project to
the balance coming from commence. The CCDC’s Water laterite road from the village all
communities and Local Sanitation sub‐committee will the way to the main road at
Government Authorities. be responsible for Ibogo. Furthermore the State
The aim of the grants is to maintenance of the new Electricity Agency has
reduce poverty at the installation. announced its intent to extend
community level, while Iko Esai is anticipating two power services out to Iko Esai.
providing reforms at local even larger projects to start We’ll provide updates once
government and state levels up in the coming year. these projects start up, as both
for improved long‐term Approvals have been granted could be game‐changing for the
accountability for for asphalting the existing community’s inhabitants.
Strength in diversity “This is the
It has just been Management, Veterinary sanctuaries’ representatives
first time that
confirmed that CERCOPAN Healthcare, and Education. present. any of the
will be hosting this year’s workshops will
The Management There are twenty member
Pan African Sanctuary have been held
workshop will be held in the sanctuaries in PASA from across
Alliance (PASA) workshop in Nigeria”
U.K., while the Veterinary twelve countries. Up until
on Education.
workshop will be in Uganda. August we will be occupied
PASA is a US‐based This is the first time that any with the complex task of
organisation that of the workshops will have finalising the diverse logistics
coordinates an alliance of been held in Nigeria. for hosting visitors arriving
primate sanctuaries across from so many other African
The workshop’s locations
Africa. In addition to countries.
are rotated around the
establishing a Code of
membership countries,
Conduct for its members,
providing the opportunity to
PASA facilitates the sharing
observe a variety of
of knowledge, experience
sanctuaries’ work in action
and expertise across
while attending the workshop.
sanctuaries via three annual
With the education workshop
workshops covering
holding in August this year in
Calabar, we will gain the
PASA membership is
chance to showcase the full
range of our operational spread across 12
activities to the other countries in Africa
