To mark World Chimpanzee Day (14 July) we’re bringing you an update on a remarkable story from our partners in the Gola Rainforest of Sierra Leone. The plight of threatened species has been a primary focus of the RSPB’s involvement in Gola, and Technical Advisor for Research in Sierra Leone, Ryan Wilkie, shines a light on recent efforts to protect one of our closest living relatives – Chimpanzees.
Our work in the Gola rainforestThe Gola Rainforest National Park in Sierra Leone is one of the largest remaining blocks of Upper Guinea Rainforest and home to a diversity of species including over 300 different birds and a cast of charismatic mammals from Pygmy Hippos to Western Chimpanzees. The RSPB has been supporting conservation efforts in the Gola Rainforest for over 30 years, working closely with local partners to study and monitor different wildlife species and improve the opportunities for people living on the forest edge. Now this work is being led by the Gola Rainforest Conservation company (GRC), a joint venture between the RSPB, the Government of Sierra Leone, and the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL), together with the local communities of Gola.
Why are we concerned about Chimpanzees in Sierra Leone?Chimpanzees are one of the focal species for the Gola Rainforest National Park. In 2019, Chimpanzees were declared as the national animal of Sierra Leone boosting national pride in the species. However, they also face numerous threats. From habitat loss and fragmentation to poaching and the illegal pet trade, these highly intelligent and social creatures have been pushed to the brink and are listed as Critically Endangered. The Gola Rainforest is one of their few remaining strongholds in West Africa but, even here, they are not always safe.
The Gola Rainforest is one of the last remaining strongholds for Chimpanzees in West Africa © Ryan Wilkie/RSPB.
Raising awarenessTo mark World Chimpanzee Day on July 14th last year (2022), the Superintendent for Research & Monitoring at GRC, Lahai Keifala, took to local radio to educate local communities, promote greater care for Chimpanzees, and garner support for conservation efforts. The radio programme formed part of a coordinated campaign to raise awareness about the plight of Chimpanzees across the region. Keifala highlighted the special relationship between humans and Chimpanzees (we share 95% of our DNA) as well as the threats that they face and the consequences for poaching or keeping Chimpanzees as pets.
The rescue operationThe awareness campaign bore fruit just a few days later when information reached the conservation team from a concerned listener about two Chimpanzees in desperate need of rescue. The baby Chimpanzees had been separated from their families in the Gola Rainforest, likely victims of the illegal pet trade.
Two baby Chimpanzees were rescued from the illegal pet trade in Gola, Sierra Leone. © Ryan Wilkie/RSPB.
The team swiftly organised a rescue operation, enlisting the help of veterinarians at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary near the capital of Freetown. After spending the night with the conservation team in Gola, the two Chimpanzees (named Malema and Jojoima) were transferred to the Tacugama Sanctuary where they received immediate medical attention.
Superintendent Lahai Keifala (left) and GRC driver Ahmed (right) take the two Chimpanzees to the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. © Ryan Wilkie/RSPB.
A new home and new friendsUnder the watchful eye of dedicated caregivers, the Chimpanzees went through a careful rehabilitation process, including physical and psychological recovery. After they successfully completed their quarantine and health checks they were introduced to other rescued Chimpanzees. Recent reports from the team at the Tacugama Sanctuary indicate that a year later they are doing very well, and they have now formed a small group with two other babies of similar ages called Rushni and Bibo.
Malema (left) and Jojoima (right) have settled into their new homes at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary. © Ryan Wilkie/RSPB.
The way forward The successful rescue of Malema and Jojoima serves as a beacon of hope for the conservation of Chimpanzees in the Gola Rainforest. It highlights the power of awareness campaigns to drive positive change and emphasises the need for ongoing efforts to protect and restore Chimpanzee habitats, with research showing that Chimpanzees preferentially nest within the Gola Rainforest National Park where the quantity and quality of forest cover is greater than the surrounding buffer zone areas. With continued dedication and collaboration, we can work together towards a world where these remarkable creatures can thrive undisturbed in their natural homes.
The awareness campaign was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the West Africa Biodiversity and Low Emissions Development (WABiLED) Program.
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