Lindsay Magnuson

Distribution and Habitat use of the Roloway Guenon in Ghana

The Roloway guenon is a rare subspecies of the Diana guenon, historically found in West Africa between Ghana and Gambia. Roloways are arboreal and are found mainly in mature undisturbed forest but have been reported in secondary forest as well as farmland. Recent surveys have noted the decline and even absence of Roloway monkeys in parks where they have traditionally been found.

The aim of this study is to determine the Roloways' status and habitat use patterns in Ghana. The study will provide data on their distribution and estimates of density. Locational data will be supplemented by data collected for habitat use patterns (based on stand conditions, plant species and ranging behaviour). In addition the study will address the need for more extensive surveys in Ghana's high forest zone. Interviews and field surveys will be conducted in at least eight forest sites in Ghana, following on from earlier presence/abundance surveys. Interviews will be conducted with farmers, villagers, hunters and wildlife / forestry personnel to gauge the general distribution of local primate populations as well as to determine a rough estimate of human-use pressure and attitudes towards conservation measures. The results will identify areas of conservation priority while also providing useful comparisons to previous research.

In January 2003 Lindsay was given Continuation funds to carry on with her study.

News & Updates

I have been very busy, but after noticing a dramatic increase in hunting activity I have jumped on the opportunity to really effect some changes in the infrastructure, community participation and research output of the Ankasa Conservation Area (as it is now called). Between my own ideas and those of Julia Trillmich (a representative of West African Primate Conservation Action ‘WAPCA’) we have drafted a hefty list of proposed changes, improvements and meetings to education Ghanaians near Ankasa about the value of conserving endangered wildlife, in particular the Roloway monkey and White-naped mangabey. Other developments include: Due to reduced hunting pressure and increased community support surrounding the Ankasa Resource Reserve, wildlife research at Ankasa has become more feasible since preliminary work in 2001. Additional measures planned or underway to encourage and improve reduction of hunting pressure at Ankasa. Trails constructed for research on the current project are ideal to monitor wildlife and assess faunal biodiversity and improve observations of wildlife by tourists. In collaboration with Julia Trillmich, several steps have been taken to encourage community participation in the conservation effort at Ankasa. Read full report clickhere.

Wednesday, October 24, 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. I am now headed back for Bia National Park, Krokosua and Dadieso Forest Reserve. There have been two recent reports of red colobus in Dadieso, a swamp forest on the Cote d'Ivoire boundary.

Wednesday, September 12, 2001

Hello again from Ghana! I've just completed another few weeks at the Krokosua Hills forest reserve. Unfortunately, I haven't much new information to offer. As of now I have three confirmed sightings of the Roloway monkeys. Based on hunter reports, I estimate there are at least three groups immediately surrounding Mim, a small village inside the Krokosua reserve. I have also conducted scouting surveys from other villages (namely Agyemadiem and Dome) but have had no luck as of yet. Each encounter with the Roloways has been sheer luck it would seem. They do not alarm call (or utter any sound!) and flee silently. I wonder how many groups I might pass by that offer no signs for identification. I have had no sightings of chimpanzees or White-crowned mangabeys. All hunter reports for both species indicate they are incredibly rare and most hunters have not seen them for at least a year. One hunter reports catching a juvenile White-crowned in a wire snare 6 months ago, it was sold as a pet to a German woman in Asafo. Chimps are reported to move seasonally through the area in large noisy groups but I was not able to confirm this. I have received three somewhat believeable reports of Red Colobus since my arrival. One man reported seeing an individual moving with Black-and-white Colobus only three weeks ago a few kilometers from Agyemadiem. A scouting survey into the area provided no confirmation. The two reports from Mim that I mentioned previously are also yet to be confirmed. There was one report of red colobus in Bia where a snail hunter claims to have seen one group on two different occasions about 8 months ago. Again, a scouting survey was conducted but unfortunately cancelled due to rain. I have arranged a five-day scouting survey with the man and wildlife department staff to investigate the area. I will be returning to Krokosua and Bia each for one to two weeks later in the study. It is my hope that further into the dry season the monkeys will be more visible. Based on these five weeks in Krokosua I can draw two major conclusions. First, the human-use pressure in this reserve is relatively intense compared to other forest areas I have visited in Ghana. Rarely was I able to conduct a survey in the forest (particularly near Agyemadiem) without hearing or seeing snail trappers, people collecting wood, yam harvesters and most of all trappers even in the most remote areas without established trails. Based on hunter interviews and evidence in the forest there are few hunters using guns but most trappers have over 50 and in some cases over 1000 traps. Second, large sections of the forest in this area are intact and offer ideal habitat for Roloways, black-and-white colobus. I have never visited Ankasa so I cannot compare the two, however, Ankasa is already afforded some protection under the wildlife department. Krokosua as a forest reserve does not receive the same protection. Wildlife guards do not patrol the area and farmers have planted cocoa (estimated at 10 years old) and plantain farms inside the reserve.