Project Update: October 2001

I couldn't be happier after my first few weeks in Ankasa. We saw Roloway monkeys our first day in camp.

We heard them again the second day just 5m outside of camp. Unfortunately it seems we may have used up our luck on these first days as since, monkey sightings have been few and far between. Despite this, I believe that diversity and density of primates is significantly higher in Krokosua despite the heavy hunting pressure I witnessed there.

Interviews with hunters and wildlife personnel have provided interesting information on two fronts. First, it seems the Black-and-white colobus only occurs in very low numbers in this park. Many individuals hadn't seen these monkeys for several (often >10) years. One chop-bar (restaurant) owner admitted to buying a Black-and-white only a month ago. Second, it seems the White-naped mangabeys are even more rare. Only two wildlife staff from Nkwanta camp had ever seen or heard mangabeys.