Preuss's red colobus
Preuss's red colobus, or Piliocolobus preussi, is endemic to Nigeria and Cameroon and is classified as Critically Endangered. The population of this species is fragmented into two sub-populations; one in the contiguous forests of the southeastern Nigeria and southwestern Cameroon and the other in Cameroon’s Ebo-Makombe-Ndokbou forest block.
To date most of the detailed information about this monkey has come from forest and bushmeat surveys in and around Korup National Park (1259 km2), contiguous with the Nigeria-Cameroon border and the only protected area in Cameroon in which the species is found. Studies show that hunting for subsistence and to supply the commercial trade in bushmeat has led to its extirpation across much of its range, and that bushmeat hunting is contributing to its decline.
There is currently little known about the ecology of this species and current political unrest in Cameroon makes collecting these data difficult. During this time, Partners for Red Colobus is focusing on creating outreach materials and supporting the efforts of local organizations to protect wildlife during this troubling time.
To date most of the detailed information about this monkey has come from forest and bushmeat surveys in and around Korup National Park (1259 km2), contiguous with the Nigeria-Cameroon border and the only protected area in Cameroon in which the species is found. Studies show that hunting for subsistence and to supply the commercial trade in bushmeat has led to its extirpation across much of its range, and that bushmeat hunting is contributing to its decline.
There is currently little known about the ecology of this species and current political unrest in Cameroon makes collecting these data difficult. During this time, Partners for Red Colobus is focusing on creating outreach materials and supporting the efforts of local organizations to protect wildlife during this troubling time.
The project |
Our primary objective with this conservation outreach campaign is to improve regional understandings of the plight of Preuss's red colobus through rural and urban programming. Specifically, we aim to increase conservation knowledge of the fragility of natural resources and the need to preserve red colobus monkeys and other wildlife. Within this objective, we strive to build a foundation for sustained, long-term education programs in that highlight the unique and irreplaceable species and ecosystems in Cameroon. As part of our long-term objectives, we aim to gain rigorous understanding of the sociocultural aspects associated with the conservation of Preuss's red colobus and increase our knowledge of the distribution and population abundance in Cameroon and Nigeria.
With funding by Mohammad bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, the Primate Society of Great Britain, and the University of Georgia we have contributed to the development and implementation of education and outreach as a tool for red colobus conservation. In 2018-19, we produced and distributed conservation education materials and supported in-situ outreach activities in collaboration with local conservation organizations in South West Cameroon. The larger goal of this project is to extend a conservation education initiative across the range of P. preussi and support biomonitoring and ethnographic research in collaboration with local conservationists. Given the political status and continued armed conflict throughout the country, the outcomes of our project so far reflect conservation outreach activities in Limbe, South West Region Cameroon, which remains stable.
With funding by Mohammad bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, the Primate Society of Great Britain, and the University of Georgia we have contributed to the development and implementation of education and outreach as a tool for red colobus conservation. In 2018-19, we produced and distributed conservation education materials and supported in-situ outreach activities in collaboration with local conservation organizations in South West Cameroon. The larger goal of this project is to extend a conservation education initiative across the range of P. preussi and support biomonitoring and ethnographic research in collaboration with local conservationists. Given the political status and continued armed conflict throughout the country, the outcomes of our project so far reflect conservation outreach activities in Limbe, South West Region Cameroon, which remains stable.
THe MAterials
All education materials were made collaboratively with student artists and researchers from the United States, England, and Cameroon. These materials include a red colobus calendar, a short comic, and posters to highlight and this species as unique to the region and communicate research related to ecology and conservation. All materials are translated in both French and English and ready to be replicated for other areas across the range of Preuss's red colobus. Additionally, they are the result of long-term ethnographic work in Cameroon, ensuring cultural sensitivity and relevancy. We aim to increase participant’s knowledge of endemism, basic ecology, conservation status, and local involvement in red colobus conservation. Click through the slideshow to see some of this work!
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LImbe Wildlife Center Exhibit and outreach event
The exhibit includes interactive and stationary materials. There are photos and an illustration of Preuss's red colobus, an interactive story board including view masters showing photographs of red colobus and other primates, a red colobus photo op poster, an interactive education poster, a poster documenting population status and research on this species, skeletal remains of colobus and other primates to reinforce the text. As part of a broader message surrounding wildlife trades we incorporated a cage used to house a confiscated chimpanzee who now resides at the center.
The Red Colobus Nature Club event included a structured presentation and activities for an interactive approach to teaching. Our presentation covered basic conservation and ecology of red colobus. Activities reinforced this information and included a guided tour of the Limbe Wildlife Center primates, a walk through the colobus exhibit in the exhibition hall, and other education activities. Activities included: 1) a foraging game to locate leaves hidden in the center; 2) color your own colobus mask; 3) forest ecosystem coloring sheets; and 4) draw your own colobus hand activities. Each child went home with a colobus mask or a sticker and a two-year red colobus calendar. Check out the photos below and click the buttons to see our research poster, kid's presentation, and some videos of this work!
The Red Colobus Nature Club event included a structured presentation and activities for an interactive approach to teaching. Our presentation covered basic conservation and ecology of red colobus. Activities reinforced this information and included a guided tour of the Limbe Wildlife Center primates, a walk through the colobus exhibit in the exhibition hall, and other education activities. Activities included: 1) a foraging game to locate leaves hidden in the center; 2) color your own colobus mask; 3) forest ecosystem coloring sheets; and 4) draw your own colobus hand activities. Each child went home with a colobus mask or a sticker and a two-year red colobus calendar. Check out the photos below and click the buttons to see our research poster, kid's presentation, and some videos of this work!