CERCONEWS May edition out now!

1. CERCO‐NEWS
VOLUME 2, ISSUE 5 M A Y 2 0 1 0
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Nordic countries on top of
Nordic countries 1
on top of climate
change climate change
From the 2
Director Visits from the Green’ state.
diplomatic missions of Not least amongst
Volunteer 2010 2 Sweden and Finland caused the targets for
a stir of excitement in Cross incoming investment is
River State this past month, the United Nations
Cost‐efficiency 2 and especially in CERCOPAN ‘Reducing Emissions
driven as we hosted them both in from Deforestation
Calabar and in Rhoko forest. and Forest
Seeking 3 The State is Degradation’ (REDD+)
alternative strengthening its programme. This offers
employment
relationships with both incentives for developing in Nigeria, the State was
Back home again
countries in order to countries to reduce eager for us to showcase our
enhance its own emissions from forest programme, and the
4
environmental management destruction and to enhance diplomats were equally
capabilities. forest carbon stocks. eager to observe front‐line
Cutting it fine 4 Cross River’s policy is to It’s a natural step for rainforest conservation in
leverage its greatest asset by Cross River State to turn to practice.
protecting its forests and countries with similar After two days of
Rebirth of Bonny 5 minimising urban environmental management meetings discussing the
and Clyde environmental impact policies, but also with the potential for collaboration in
through efficient waste technologies and capabilities the urban setting, we
management. Tourism and to implement them. travelled with them to
Virus scanning 5
investment are being With CERCOPAN at the Rhoko to give an overview
licence needed
attracted to the ‘Clean and forefront of REDD dialogue of our community‐based
conservation activities.
Want to be a part 6 Enthusiastic and hands‐
of it ? on, they wasted no time in
immersing themselves in our
programme, ending with a
climb to our tree platform
for a fuller view of the
Diplomats Efriam forest.
Gomez (Sweden) and Our partnership with
Lauri Voionmaa State Government goes
from strength to strength.
(Finland) in the
We will continue to be
Rhoko canopy integral to this initiative in
the succeeding rounds of
exchanges and negotiations,
with every intention to
foster the Nordic connection
to the benefit of Cross River
State’s inhabitants.

2. PAGE 2
From the Director
Our visitors all play an ambassadorial role alone individuals who had so
important role in helps our cause. Sign up much energy for their
reiterating that the soon! mission, and love for
outside world views And on the subject of nature.
solutions to conserve the Ambassadors, we had I’ve been an
rainforests of Nigeria as an diplomats from Sweden ambassador for wildlife
urgent priority. and Finland visiting with us since I learnt to talk, and I
Just the presence of in Calabar and in Rhoko continue to be delighted
expatriates in the village this last month. that Cross River State
and at Rhoko lends strong Read in our lead article relies on me on these
Claire Coulson
support to our message on about the Cross River State important occasions to
the importance of Government’s intentions show the good work that
CERCOPAN
conservation and to our to form a close working is being performed in
Director
efforts to bring about relationship with these Cross River, and the
change. two countries to enhance opportunities for
For those of you who the State’s environmental enhanced protection of its
read our article below on programmes, both in the forests.
Volunteer opportunities city and for the forests of
and are thinking about the State.
whether you’re right for It was invigorating for
the job, please bear in me to participate in the
mind that this meetings and work with
“So you, yes
Volunteer 2010
you there, the one We made a big hit in support our cause. And work, but we welcome
looking for 2009 when we marketed perhaps changing your longer stays for those of
the volunteer concept to life! you with flexibility. Prices,
something
those in full‐time work The brochure is packed Availability and How to
different to do who want to spend their with information: How can apply are also included.
this year….check vacation doing good and you help; Have you got You can find the new
it out!” experiencing a totally new what it takes to be a brochure both on our
world. volunteer; Meet the Facebook fan page, and on
Now we’ve published monkeys; Life in the our home page (see the
our Short‐Term Volunteer forest; Village life; back of this newsletter).
Brochure 2010, and invite Preparing to travel; and So you, yes you there,
you to consider spending What to bring. the one looking for
time with us in Nigeria this 2‐4 weeks is the typical something different to do
year applying your skills to stay for those in full‐time this year….check it out!
Cost‐efficiency driven
Our latest recruit is a daily requirements for be very time‐consuming
driver. His name is Oliver materials purchases and and beyond our budget.
and his work is improving logistics With only management
our efficiency daily. But life has changed in qualified to drive our
Okadas (that means Calabar. In the State’s trucks, it has proven highly
motorbike taxis) used to continuing ‘Clean and cost‐efficient to take on a
be ubiquitous in Calabar. Green’ drive to attract driver.
For a short trip, flag one tourists, Okadas can no Our daily transportation
down, negotiate the fare, longer ply for trade. needs are solved, and our
Oliver at the and hop on the back. A The alternative, car maintenance and repairs
ready very useful service for taxis following fixed needs can be monitored
CERCOPAN staff, with our routes, have turned out to directly. Welcome Oliver!

3. VOLUME 2, ISSUE 5 PAGE 3
Seeking alternative employment Chief’s Council in
Owai
Our work in the projects that will provide information
community has now diverse income sources. regarding the
successfully jump‐started a From the point of view causes and
series of alternative of the International Union impacts of
livelihoods projects, and is for Conservation of Nature climate change
laying the groundwork for (IUCN) the aim is in Agoi.
further expansion within our environmental protection, Excellent
host community Iko Esai and and this requires finding progress has
extension to our alternatives for those whose been made with
neighbouring villages Agoi, activities directly threaten the most
Owai and Iko Ekperem. the survival of the forest vulnerable
Our funders for these and its fauna – primarily groups in both
initiatives reach the same hunters. villages, including the
end from two different Following extensive establishment of a piggery
starting points. dialogue in Iko Esai and (see last month’s CERCO‐
For the Canadian Agoi, a variety of strategies NEWS), the introduction of
International Development to discourage hunting have poultry farming, and a small
Agency (CIDA), the been developed. ‐scale bakery.
requirement is to trial These include improving Work is ongoing and all
adaptation strategies to income through cocoa these projects will be
address climate change. farming (a training course expanded to involve more
Increasingly erratic weather has been completed), the participants over the coming
patterns threaten the provision of abattoir and months. “Excellent
means of living for those storage facilities to Our Community progress has been
dependent entirely on the hygienically and humanely Conservation Manager has
natural resource base. slaughter domestic animals been visiting the villages of
made with the
for consumption Owai and Iko Ekperem to most vulnerable
Iko Esai’s (funded separately meet with the Chiefs and groups in both
thriving by Toronto Zoo), and support the development of
piggery the establishment of indigenous organisations to villages, including
a cow meat co‐ write funding proposals for the introduction
operative group. All alternative livelihoods
of these projects are assistance. of poultry
well underway at Progress is good, with farming, and a
present. development bodies
A successful established in both
small‐scale
Awareness training on awareness workshop was communities, and training is bakery”
climate change provides the organised for those who had underway in proposal
motivation to engage in not yet been exposed to the writing and budgetary skills.
Women’s baking
group in Iko Esai

4. PAGE 4
Back home again
We had a most primates. The vision of ultimate
welcome visit Zena sits on the PASA release back to the wild was
this past month Steering Committee, and with Zena from the day she
from Zena Tooze, gave a presentation at the first took in our first
Founder (and annual PASA Management monkey, Leo, and set in
now Trustee) of Workshop recently on the progress the organisation
CERCOPAN. advances made by we have become today.
We are a CERCOPAN in the past year. And it’s an organisation
member of the By good fortune the that is changing all the time,
Pan African workshop was held in so Zena was quickly on the
Sanctuary Cameroon. This meant that move to welcome all the
Alliance (PASA), a it was a short step (well new staff we have engaged
Zena back in ‘her US‐based organisation which actually a rather since she was last here. In
village’ performs the crucial role of uncomfortable boat‐ride) to Iko Esai she provided gifts
promoting cooperation, Calabar, and our from the UK to the Chiefs,
adherence to standards, and headquarters. and in Rhoko it was a time to
a sense of community Once Zena was in‐ relax in the forest we all
amongst its member country, the priority was to love.
organisations across Africa scrutinise the final details For more information on
who share our mission to for our impending second PASA, please visit http://
conserve and protect African release of Mona monkeys. pasaprimates.org/
Cutting it fine
The rains came late to the canopy had Two large buttress trees
Nigeria this year, but they accumulated a vast mass of laying right across one of
announced themselves in weakened limbs, and had the Mona enclosures had to
full force when they finally become an accident waiting be removed urgently in case
arrived. to happen. the construction collapsed
Delayed until May, the entirely.
impact this year was We also had to address
the worst we have trees down on the road to
seen for three years. Iko Esai, as well as one that
Of immediate concern damaged and set back the
was the safety of our roofing work on our new
primates. community centre.
Trees down across the Salvage operations were
main Red‐capped conducted under the
mangabey enclosure guidance of expert tree
had allowed the entire surgeon, and visiting
50‐strong group to volunteer, Joe Brophy.
escape. Without his help, we would
Thankfully, they were not have been able to get
all lured back with our operations back to a
food, while interim reasonable state of
repairs were normality by nightfall.
There’s a Mona The first fierce completed to ensure no And that was our one
enclosure in there thunderstorm of the year is further escapes. But piece of good fortune in a
somewhere! the one to fear in the forest. sections of the fence will difficult day. It was Joe’s last
With an extended and have to replaced in the day at camp before
particularly hot dry season, longer term . returning home!

5. VOLUME 2, ISSUE 5 PAGE 5
Rebirth of Bonny and Clyde
A peak in births of birth to her first baby, named gave birth to a little boy
primates is coincidental Bosco. We don’t yet know if called Bassey. Even
with the beginning of the Bosco is a male or a female though they are similar
rainy season and the since it is very difficult to in size to monas when
emergence of additional assess this in young guenons. new born, it is easier to
food in the forest. Bosco is very healthy and identify the sex of baby
totally under the protection Red‐capped mangabeys
of the mother who early on.
sometimes gets annoyed by Bototo was born in
the mischievous and still Rhoko in 2005 and it is
young Wanna who always her first child. She looks
wants to get the attention after him very well,
of the others. taking the example of
July, the adult male of the her mother Blessing.
Bebi group and father of the Finally, by the end of
and baby is also very protective the month, one of our most Bonny with her
Bosco and tolerant toward Bebi popular adult female Red‐ fourth child
and Bosco. July and Bebi capped mangabeys, Bonny,
were among the release gave birth to her fourth baby.
group in 2007‐2008 but Bonny is the best friend of “A peak in
unfortunately they had to Clyde. births of
be re‐captured Clyde is one the most
Three new babies were subsequently. The addition of dominant males of the group
primates is
born in May in Rhoko: a a juvenile enhances our despite his advanced age coincidental
mona and two mangabeys. chances for their re‐release. (almost 20 years old now) and with the
Bebi, a 4 1/2 year old Only a few days later, is used to following Bonny beginning of the
adult female mona gave Bototo, which means “gift”, everywhere she goes. rainy season and
the emergence
Virus scanning licence needed
In the last month Fabian we have access to here in 1975. CITES ensures that the
of additional
food in the
forest.”
Schmidt, from the Calabar are established for international trade in
University of Cambridge has human pathogens only. specimens of wild animals and
been supporting us by To ensure that as many plants does not threaten their
screening our primate animals as possible are survival.
populations for viral suitable for future releases, To exclude any loopholes,
pathogens. Fabian is a PhD those with transmissible, diagnostic samples require a
student in Professor chronic infections must be CITES license as well.
Jonathan Heeney’s group at identified and housed apart Unfortunately a suspension
the Department of from healthy animals. The was placed on Nigeria by
Veterinary Medicine. He Cambridge group has the CITES six years ago.
specializes in viral diseases required experience and We are optimistic that
found in primates of the technical set‐ups to assist us CERCOPAN’s contribution to
Cercopithecus and with this decision making. the conservation of
Cercocebus genii. However, to ship samples endangered primate species
His main aim for this into the UK, Fabian requires will be taken in account and
visit is to gain permission to an Export licence from the the export of these samples
export diagnostic samples Federal Ministry of permitted. This would be a
from Nigeria to the UK. Environment which is the positive example to support
There he will apply tests Management Authority for Nigeria’s ambition to ensure
that are specific to the CITES in Nigeria. stronger and more effective Our Vet Nurse
species that are kept at CITES is the Convention enforcement of the
Austin assisting
CERCOPAN. This will mean on International Trade in convention's regulations aiming
an improvement to our Endangered Species of Wild for a total lift of the suspension Fabian in the lab
health‐checks, as the tests Fauna and Flora, in force since in the future.

6. WANT TO BE A PART OF IT?
• Make a cash donation to CERCOPAN via our
• Stay in touch with our on‐going programme website...every little helps!
by bookmarking our home page
http://www.cercopan.org/ and our Blog site • Buy a gift for friends or family from the
http://cercopan.wildlifedirect.org/ Good Gifts Catalogue (www.goodgifts.org).
or joining our Facebook fan page You can buy a month's supply of fruit for
http://www.facebook.com/cercopan/ growing CERCOPAN orphan monkeys ‐
called in the catalogue 'A‐peeling Monkeys'
• Volunteer for CERCOPAN in either Nigeria or for only £20! The price of the gift is passed
the UK. We offer a range of different on to CERCOPAN. So, it is an excellent way
programmes so there is something for of solving your gift problems, and
everyone! Visit our website volunteer supporting our work! Alternatively visit the
section for further details. CERCOPAN gift shop on our website today.
• Help CERCOPAN attain corporate funding. If • Donate useful goods and equipment such as
you work for a corporate sponsor who may building and fencing materials, veterinary
be interested in funding CERCOPAN please medicines, old laptop computers etc. or
contact claire.coulson@cercopan.org services such as printing, blood testing and
architectural design.
• Undertake a sponsored event to raise funds
for CERCOPAN.
www.cercopan.org
http://cercopan.wildlifedirect.org
http://www.facebook.com/cercopan/
All photos in this newsletter were taken at CERCOPAN or Iko Esai
by staff, volunteers and visitors.
Photo Credits:
© Copyright CERCOPAN 2010
Design & Layout by Claire Coulson; Written by Claire Coulson, Rachel Hemingway, Amy Baxter
Edited by Claire Coulson