Pygmy Hippo Conservation Project

Within the

“Across the River – A Transboundary Peace Park for and Liberia” Project (ARTP)

Sponsored by Zoo Basel, Switzerland

First report, July – December 2010

Dr. Annika Hillers & Andrew M. Muana

Across the River – A Transboundary Peace Park for Sierra Leone and Liberia (ARTP) Research Unit c/o Gola Forest Programme, 164 Dama Road, , Sierra Leone [email protected] Pygmy Hippo Conservation Project: First report July – December 2010

Zusammenfassung Das Zwergflusspferd-Schutzprojekt im “Across the River – A Transboundary Peace Park for Sierra Leone and Liberia” Projekt (ARTP) möchte in enger Zusammenarbeit mit den im Projektgebiet ansässigen Gemeinden Zwergflusspferde untersuchen und schützen. Das Projekt startete im Juli 2010. Das Team besteht aus einem Projektkoordinator, einem Verantwortlichen für Umwelterziehung und fünf „Community Conservation wardens“. Außerdem wird das Team von Kollegen der Forschungseinheit des ARTPs unterstützt. Die Community Wardens wurden in der Nutzung von GPS-Einheiten, Kompass, Fragebögen und Grundlagenwissen im Bereich Naturschutz und Zwergflusspferden geschult. Seit Juli 2010 sind sie regelmäßig im Feld und in den Dörfern unterwegs, um Daten zum Schutzstatus und zur Gefährdung von Zwergflusspferden (Jagd, Habitatzerstörung) sowie Informationen zu ihrer Ökologie (z.B. Ernährung und Bewegungsmuster) und bisher nicht bekannten Populationen zu sammeln. Geeignete Habitate entlang von Flüssen werden nach Kot-, Fuß- und Fressspuren abgesucht. Im Bereich Umwelterziehung kooperieren wir mit April Conway und der Environmental Foundation for Africa. Diese Kooperation beinhaltet das Erstellen von Materialien (z.B. Poster und Aufkleber) sowie gemeinsame Aktivitäten (z.B. Schulbesuche und „Road shows“ in den Dörfern). Für die zweite Hälfte des Projekts von Januar bis Juni 2011 planen wir, das Umwelterziehungsprogramm neben den bisherigen Aktivitäten auf das Erstellen von Zwergflusspferd-Wandmalereien auszuweiten. Außerdem werden wir mehr Surveys entlang von Flüssen durchführen, Kamerafallen anwenden und in Zusammenarbeit mit April Conway ein Zwergflusspferd radiotelemetrieren. Schließlich möchten wir einen „Zwergflusspferdtag“ veranstalten, der weiter dazu beitragen soll, dass Zwergflusspferde eine Flagship-Art nicht nur für Sierra Leone, sondern auch für die gesamte Region des Oberguineischen Waldblocks werden.

Summary The pygmy hippo conservation project within the “Across the River – A Transboundary Peace Park for Sierra Leone and Liberia” project (ARTP) aims at studying, monitoring and protecting pygmy hippos in the project areas of the ARTP (and Gola Forest Programme) in close collaboration with local communities. The project started in July 2010 with the recruitment and training of a project coordinator, an education officer and five community conservation wardens. Furthermore, the team is supported by members of the ARTP research unit. The community wardens were trained in the use of GPS, compass, the application of questionnaires and basic knowledge about pygmy hippos and conservation. Since July 2010 the pygmy hippo team is regularly in the field, applying questionnaires to monitor the pygmy hippos’ conservation status and threats (hunting, habitat destruction), collect basic ecological information (e.g. diet and movement patterns), and survey for new populations. Suitable habitats along rivers are surveyed searching for signs like dung, foot prints and feeding sites of pygmy hippos. Concerning the pygmy hippo education programme, we are collaborating with April Conway and the Environmental Foundation for Africa in producing education materials (e.g. posters and bumper stickers) and conducting joint activities (e.g. education tours in schools, road shows). During the second half of the project, from January to June 2011, besides the continuation of the education programme that will include more activities like wall paintings at schools, more surveys along rivers will take place, camera traps will be deployed and we will try to radio track a pygmy hippo in collaboration with April Conway. Furthermore, we wish to create a “pygmy hippo day” that will further

2 contribute to pygmy hippos becoming a true flagship species for Sierra Leone and the Upper Guinean Forests sub region.

Introduction

• The “Across the River – A transboundary Peace Park for Sierra Lone and Liberia “ project (ARTP) The “Across the River – A Transboundary Peace Park for Sierra Leone and Liberia” project (ARTP) aims at establishing an effective project management framework for cross-border corridor forests to ensure their long-term biodiversity conservation and the global carbon storage benefits. These forests, consisting of potentially 50,000 ha of currently unprotected community forests, are linking the 750 km 2 Gola Forest Reserves in south-eastern Sierra Leone and the 980 km 2 Gola National Forest in western Liberia, thus forming a continuous forest block within the Upper Guinean Forest region (Fig. 1). The ARTP was launched in May 2009 and is a partnership of different institutions with different roles. The grantee is the “Vogelbescherming Nederland”, the Dutch BirdLife International branch. The overall management of the project is under the responsibility of BirdLife International. The Sierra Leonean and the Liberian governments are represented by the Forestry Division and the Forest Development Authority, respectively. Two NGOs, the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone (CSSL) and the Society for the Conservation of Nature of Liberia (SCNL) are responsible for the community-based work concerning sensitization, awareness creation, sustainable management of natural resources and alternative livelihood strategies. Finally, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is conducting the research work.

Figure 1: Study area of the ARTP (dark green) in Sierra Leone, linking the Gola Forest Reserves in Sierra Leone and the Gola National Forest in Liberia.

3 The research unit of the ARTP, consisting of one conservation scientist, six Sierra Leonean and six Liberian research technicians as well as seven members of the pygmy hippo conservation team is responsible for surveying and monitoring flora and fauna, sometimes with the help of external experts. The research especially focuses on key landscape and migratory species such as forest elephants, chimpanzees and pygmy hippos. Based on the findings, recommendations will be made for those corridor areas that are the most important for the key landscape species and biodiversity in general and thus should be priorities for further monitoring and protection. In the light of pygmy hippo research (and also for some other taxa), the RSPB is conducting predictive range mapping studies to get a better idea on the potential distribution of this species and of areas that should be prioritised for future research (and conservation). Other activities of the research unit include the collaboration with national and international universities, NGOs and researchers, as well as environmental education.

• The pygmy hippo conservation project sponsored by Zoo Basel The pygmy hippo conservation project funded by the Basel Zoo aims at studying, monitoring and protecting pygmy hippos in the project areas of the ARTP (and GFP) in close collaboration with local communities.

- Project activities 1 July – 31 December 2010 The pygmy hippo conservation project within the ARTP officially started on 1 July 2010 but arrangements for a successful implementation of the project like interviews for the different positions in the team and related administration have been made in May and June 2010. The team (Fig. 2 and 3) consists of a conservation scientist, a project coordinator, an education officer, ARTP and Gola Forest Programme (GFP) research technicians and five community conservation wardens recruited from communities in the project area. The research technicians and community conservation wardens are trained in basic conservation principles and facts about pygmy hippos, the use of GPS and compass, the application of questionnaires, data sheets etc. They thus are able to work within the communities, to explain the importance and uniqueness of pygmy hippos to community people as well as the need to protect them. Furthermore, they are collecting useful information about the distribution, behaviour and ecology of pygmy hippos. A detailed overview on the activities performed during the time period from July to December 2010 is given in Appendix 1. So far, the activities focused on three different components: 1) Awareness creation for project in communities, completing village and pygmy hippo questionnaires From July to December 2010, the main focus of our activities lay on the visits in the communities and the application of questionnaires (Fig. 4). The aim was to get basic information about the distribution of pygmy hippos in the project area and about the threats they face, to get an idea about the villagers’ knowledge and view about pygmy hippos and to sensitise the communities about the project and the importance of pygmy hippos. Within the seven chiefdoms in the project area, 94 villages were visited (App. 2) and in total about 400 pygmy hippo questionnaires (App. 3) and village questionnaires (App. 4) were completed. The pygmy hippo questionnaire is a slightly modified version of a questionnaire that was used for an earlier pygmy hippo survey performed by the GFP. As in many of the communities the pygmy hippo team

4 was the first group representing the ARTP, the completed questionnaires and the presence of the pygmy hippo team in the respective communities gave also valuable support and information to the ARTP in general.

Figure 2: Some members of the pygmy hippo conservation team during one of the first missions in .

Andrew M. Abraham G. Kailie, Prince A.J. Soriba, Mohamed Koroma, Solomon M. Muana, Education Officer, Research Research Tommy, Project ARTP Technician Technician Research Coordinator GFP ARTP Technician ARTP ARTP

Dr. Annika Mohamed Umaru Lahai Kanneh, Sheku Muana Hillers, Kallon, Bockarie, Community Massaquoi, Konneh, Conservation Community Community Conservation Community Community Scientist Conservation Conservation Warden ARTP Conservation Conservation ARTP Warden Warden ARTP Warden ARTP Warden ARTP ARTP Figure 3: The team members of the pygmy hippo conservation project.

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Figure 4: Pygmy hippo conservation team applying questionnaires in community.

The main part of the data of the questionnaires has been digitalised and will be validated throughout the next months. The community members indicated the presence of pygmy hippos in many areas. In some areas the presence could be confirmed by the community conservation wardens and other members of the pygmy hippo team who saw direct signs of pygmy hippos (footprints, dung and feeding sites). However, in some areas no direct signs could confirm the current presence of pygmy hippos. They thus were treated as historical records. Preliminary results are shown in the map in Figure 5, separating the data into the categories of recent and historic records. Furthermore, the map shows the distribution of villages where the pygmy hippo questionnaires were completed. There was no evidence of hunting activities targeting pygmy hippos. However, it was mentioned that pygmy hippos could accidentally become victims of snare traps. The main threat to pygmy hippos in the project area is the loss of suitable habitats. Concerning the activity and visibility of pygmy hippos, the community members (as well as the community conservation wardens) stated that it is easier to encounter pygmy hippos during the dry season when they are moving less and prefer sites close to or in the rivers. As the main diet of pygmy hippos the villagers indicated different herbaceous plants. Interestingly, a widespread idea is that one of the pygmy hippos’ preferred food is charcoal (people believe that when a fire is made close to the river, the pygmy hippos come out of the water with water in their mouths and cease the fire by spraying water on it; then they eat the charcoal). In contrary to the area of Tiwai Island, located in the Moa River not far from the ARTP project area, where the pygmy hippos frequently enter farmland and destroy crops, this does not seem to happen in the project area of ARTP and no major concerns were raised about this issue.

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Figure 5: Preliminary results of the pygmy hippo conservation project in the ARTP study area around the Gola Forest Reserves (that will be proclaimed as a National Park within the first quarter of 2011). 2) Pygmy hippo survey in suitable habitats and in areas where community members indicated presence of pygmy hippos The survey work using the pygmy hippo survey data sheet (App. 5) that was developed by the GFP for earlier pygmy hippo surveys was mainly performed after the peak of the rainy season. During the rainy season signs of pygmy hippos are very often washed away and especially close to rivers, the terrain is flooded and not accessible. The preliminary data of the surveys are also included in the map in Figure 5. Since the start of the dry season, more suitable habitats are accessible and besides the information from the questionnaires also the maps resulting from the predictive range mapping done at RSPB helps to identify priority areas for the surveys. Also for the surveys, the community wardens use the acquired knowledge concerning GPS, compass and they were trained in applying the survey data sheet in the field (Fig. 6). During the survey, the team performs transect walks along rivers and streams, searching for pygmy hippo signs such as dung, footprints (Fig. 7) and feeding sites.

Figure 6: Community conservation Figure 7: Pygmy hippo wardens are trained in pygmy hippo survey, footprints next to river, using the pygmy hippo survey data sheet. observed during pygmy hippo survey.

3) Environmental/pygmy hippo education and distribution of posters in communities and schools The environmental/pygmy hippo education within the pygmy hippo conservation project focuses on the visits in schools and communities where different activities are performed as well as on the development of educational materials. As also April Conway (PhD student from the University of Georgia working on pygmy hippos on Tiwai Island) and the Environmental Foundation for Africa (EFA with the FoSED programme of WHH) are performing environmental education programmes in the same Sierra Leonean sub region, it seemed reasonable to join efforts and to perform joint education activities (Fig. 8). The three parties developed a Memorandum of Understanding (App. 6) that deals with such joint education activities as well as with joint fund raising campaigns and staff trainings. So far, the joint programme was performed in 11 schools (App. 7). The programme contains presentations on endangered species, pygmy hippos and deforestation, as well as quizzes. Logistics (vehicle, portable generator, screen etc.) were mainly provided by the ARTP. Other schools were only visited by the education officer of the pygmy hippo conservation project and besides presentations also pygmy hippo drawing competitions were done.

Figure 8: Abraham G. Kailie (education officer pygmy hippo conservation project), April Conway (University of Georgia) and Victor Momoh (Education officer EFA) performing environmental education programme in schools in the project area.

9 Together with April Conway, we developed a poster (Fig. 9). A bumper sticker (Fig. 10) was produced in collaboration with April Conway and EFA and T-shirts for the pygmy hippo conservation team have been printed.

Figure 9: Pygmy hippo conservation poster developed with April Conway (University of Georgia) and funded with the project money from Zoo Basel.

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Figure 10: Bumper sticker developed and printed in collaboration with April Conway (University of Georgia) and the Environmental Foundation for Africa.

Environmental education activities are not only performed in schools. During visits in communities meetings are held, villagers are sensitised about pygmy hippos and posters are distributed (Fig. 11). Also bumper stickers will be distributed, mainly to drivers of local taxis and public motorbikes, so that they can put them on their vehicles and the conservation message thus reaches a bigger community.

Figure 11: Posters of pygmy hippo conservation project in Teyama and Mayengema villages.

- Other activities - Joint presentations for staff: On 17 September 2010 we organised presentations from April Conway about her PhD project and from Andrew Muana (coordinator for our pygmy hippo conservation project) for the staff from ARTP and GFP, as well as for four students from Njala University in Sierra Leone. - From 18 to 23 September 2010 two students from Njala University accompanied the pygmy hippo conservation project y joining the community conservation wardens in the field. - Fund raising: As stated in the MoU the three pygmy hippo collaboration partners ARTP, EFA and April Conway (University of Georgia) seek for further funds for various activities like mural paintings, field trips for pupils, the pygmy hippo day etc. A letter to the potential fund raisers was developed and distributed. So far, the

11 ARTP’s success in raising additional funds was very small. However, April Conway secured funds from the US Embassy that will help with the wall paintings. - Pygmy hippo conservation strategy meeting in Monrovia 22-24 November 2010: The pygmy hippo conservation strategy meeting was organised be IUCN/ZSL. ARTP gave two presentations, one focusing on the pygmy hippo conservation project funded by the Zoo Basel, one on the predictive range mapping done by RSPB. The Zoo Basel was acknowledged for its contribution to the pygmy hippo project. In the discussion with other colleagues present at the workshop it became obvious that the projects in Sierra Leone are the most active ones and the only ones with effective cooperation.

- Planned project activities 1 January – 30 June 2011 - Recruitment of new community conservation warden starting in February 2011: Sadly, our colleague Sheku Massaquoi who was a community conservation warden in the pygmy hippo project passed away in December 2010. A new member for the team, Mohamed Lamin Fofanah, has been identified and will start his job on 1 February 2011. - The pygmy hippo surveys in suitable habitats will continue. - The data entry will be completed and results from questionnaires will be validated. - The education programme and the collaboration with April Conway and EFA will continue. More school visits are planned and more posters and bumper stickers will be distributed. Furthermore, mural paintings will be done at selected schools. - In collaboration with April Conway and EFA the idea of creating a “Pygmy hippo day” was developed. This day should involve local stakeholder, politicians, universities etc. and should aim at further promoting pygmy hippos as a true flagship species for the project area, Sierra Leone and the Upper Guinean Forest sub region. Currently, we are looking for funds for this event. - In collaboration with April Conway, we plan to radio track one pygmy hippo in the ARTP project area. This will help identifying the habitat needs and movement patterns of pygmy hippos. A joint training for research technicians from Tiwai Island, ARTP and GFP is planned for early January 2011. Prof. John Carroll (University of Georgia), who is supervising April Conway’s PhD project, will be lecturing and give practical classes in radio telemetry. - Camera traps will be deployed to get further information about the distribution of pygmy hippos and to confirm their presence or absence especially in areas where community members stated that pygmy hippos are present, but no signs of their presence were observed. - We will continue to collect as much information on pygmy hippos as possible, e.g. on diet and habitat requirements. - We wish to collaborate with a conservation geneticist who based on dung samples will be able to estimate population sizes and to comment on genetic exchange of different populations. ZSL might lead such a project in collaboration with the University of Edinburgh-

Acknowledgements We thank the Zoo Basel for the great support that enabled us to conduct this pygmy hippo project and to involve local communities in pygmy hippo conservation. Furthermore, we are deeply thankful to Sheku Massaquoi who was a friendly, valuable and reliable team member of our pygmy hippo conservation team. We regret that he passed away and wish we could have worked and lived with him much longer.

12 Appendix 1: List of activities in the pygmy hippo conservation project from July to December 2010 with locations (district towns or chiefdoms), dates and participants.

Activity Location Dates Team members Inception pygmy hippo project, Kenema 5-9 July 2010 5 Community wardens, Kailie, Andrew, M. Koroma, Annika, Prince training community conservation (GFP) wardens Pygmy hippo questionnaires & Nomo Chiefdom 13-19 July 2010 5 Community wardens, Kailie, Andrew, M. Koroma, Annika, Prince survey (GFP) Pygmy hippo questionnaires & Chiefdom Nomo 26-30 July 2010 5 Community wardens, Kailie, Andrew, M. Koroma, Annika, Prince survey (GFP) Training community conservation Kenema 9-12 July 2010 5 Community wardens, Kailie, Andrew, M. Koroma wardens pygmy hippo project Pygmy hippo education & Bo 13 August 2010 Andrew, Kailie, Annika collaboration with April Conway, EFA/FoSED Pygmy hippo research and Tiwai Island 13-15 August 2010 Annika collaboration, meeting with April Conway, EFA/FoSED Pygmy hippo questionnaires & Nomo and Gaura 17-22 August 2010 Mohamed K., Kallon, Sheku, Umaru survey Chiefdoms Pygmy hippo questionnaires & Nomo, Malema and 27 August-2 September Mohamed K, Kallon, Sheku, Umaru, Muana, Lahai survey Gaura Chiefdoms 2010

Pygmy hippo education & Bo 16 September 2010 Andrew, Kailie, Annika collaboration with April Conway, EFA/FoSED Pygmy hippo project & collaboration Kenema 17 September 2010 Pygmy hippo team, Annika, ARTP and GFP RTs, ARTP CMOs with April Conway, presentations Activity Location Dates Team members Pygmy hippo team induction Kenema 4-7 October 2010 Andrew, Kailie, Solomon, Kallon, Umaru, Muana, Lahai, Sheku, workshop with research unit Mohamed K., Annika Pygmy hippo conservation project Kenema 12-14 October 2010 Andrew, Kailie, Solomon, Kallon, Umaru, Muana, Lahai, Sheku, integration into ARTP; experience Mohamed K., Annika sharing and project implementation workshop Pygmy hippo education & Barri and Pejeh 11-15 October 2010 Kailie collaboration with April Conway, Chiefdoms EFA/FoSED: Joint school programme Pygmy hippo education & Bo 19 October 2010 Andrew, Kailie, Annika collaboration with April Conway, EFA/FoSED Pygmy hippo questionnaires & Malema, Makpele, 19-26 October 2010 Umaru, Muana, Solomon, Kallon, Sheku, Lahai survey Tunkia and Barri Chiefdoms Pygmy hippo questionnaires & Malema Chiefdom 29 October-4 November Umaru, Muana, Solomon, Kallon, Sheku, Lahai, Andrew survey Makpele Chiefdom Pygmy hippo questionnaires & Malema and Nomo 8-12 November Umaru, Muana, Solomon, Kallon, Sheku, Lahai survey Chiefdom Pygmy hippo questionnaires & Koya and Barri 17-23 November 2010 Solomon, Kallon, Umaru, Muana, Lahai survey Chiefdoms Pygmy hippo conservation strategy Monrovia, Liberia 22-24 November 2010 Andrew, Annika workshop from IUCN in Monrovia Pygmy hippo education & Gorahun and Pewa 29-30 November 2010 Kailie, Annika collaboration with April Conway, in Tunkia and EFA/FoSED: Joint school Malema Chiefdoms programme

14 Activity Location Dates Team members

Pygmy hippo education & Kenema 1 December 2010 Andrew, Kailie, Annika collaboration with April Conway, EFA/FoSED Pygmy hippo survey Tunkia and Nomo 2-9 December 2010 Solomon, Kallon, Umaru, Andrew, Lahai Chiefdoms Pygmy hippo education: school visits Kenema 6-8 December 2010 Kailie Pygmy hippo survey Malema and Momo 12-17 December 2010 Solomon, Kallon, Umaru, Andrew, Lahai Chiefdoms

15 Appendix 2: List of chiefdoms and communities that were visited by the community wardens and where questionnaires were completed.

1) Malema Chiefdom (21 communities): Mayengema, Mogbaima, Makpoima, Seiyama, Banni, Congo, Gori, Konnela, Giema, Missila, Levuma, Fobu, Njagolahun, Takpoima, Jagoima, Teyama, Bandajuma, Potama, Dambala, Yolloh, Nyelemi 2) Makpele Chiefdom (13 communities): Nyeyama, Pewa, Jeniva, Sendebuma, Gbangbama, Palima, Pewa Tombo, Mahoi Goh, Baguihun, Bayama, Ngbaa, Wunde, Matai 3) Nomo Chiefdom (17 communities): Kwadima, Ngedola, Faama, Waima , Kannela, Pelewama, Kpandebu, Taninahun, Manjama, Tolobu, Libbi, Kponobu, Bonoyema, Peiyema, Dambala, Levuma, Bo Pewama 4) (8 communities): Gbahama, Ngolala, Mendekelema, Bono Yiema, Gbadiwoh, Bo Gaura, Sembehun, Jenneh 5) (21 communities): Gbomumbu, Golawoma, Fatio, Bikoma, Bongoma, Nemahugoima, Geiwumba, Folima, Tigbwema, Nagbwena, Buma, Ngoma, Masaila, Mano Njeigbla, Gbangeima, Njagbaka, Vaama, Njama, Matakan, Gedema, Matago 6) Barri Chiefdom (2 communities): Samatia, Teiwoma 7) (12 communities): Baoma, Geiya, Gobioma, Jajay, Kokerma, Magboma, Mapuma, Vaama, Segbema, Kpandemie, Kortumahun, Bangoma

Appendix 3: Pygmy hippo conservation questionnaire applied in targeted communities by the community wardens and other team members of the pygmy hippo conservation project.

PYGMY HIPPO CONSERVATION VILLAGE QUESTIONNAIRE :

Date Team GPS NO.

Village Locat Location WP

1. Have you ever seen a pygmy hippo? Yes______No______

2. If yes, where did you see it? ______

3. How many did you see? ______

4. Did they have young with them? Yes______No______

5. Can you take me to the place where you saw it? (If agreed record)

(a). GPS location______(b) Waypoint______

6. Apart from this area, where else can we find pygmy hippos? ______

7. What time of the day can we see them? ______and what time of the Year can one see them? ______

8. Where do pygmy hippos feed? ______

9. What kind of food do they eat? List ______

10. Are pygmy hippos destructive to food crops? Yes______No______

11. In your opinion, are there more pygmy hippos now than they were in the past? Yes______No______

12. If no, what do you think has caused this?______

13. Are pygmy hippos hunted in this area? Yes______No______

14. If yes, what are they hunted for? ______

15. Except from bushmeat, do you know any other way people use their body or body parts? (Explain)______

16. Where do pygmy hippos spend most of their time? ______

17. Comments and Remarks______

17 Appendix 4: Community questionnaire that was developed to collect baseline data from communities about e.g. wildlife and livelihood.

Across the River Project – Community Questionnaire

Name of village: Date: Observers: GPS location (if not on settlement data sheet): Latitude: Longitude:

Please answer to the following questions (using the space below): 1) What type of forests do you have around your community (pristine, secondary, sacred forest, etc.)? 2) What other type of landscapes do you find? 3) Which animals do you find in your community forest (please have a look at the animal pictures)? 4) From your own experience, which of these forest animals are dangerous or destroy your crops? When did you make this experience? 5) Did the number of animals change since you are living here? If yes, what do you think is the reason? 6) How do you use your forest (e.g. hunting for bush meat, traps, rattan, fishing, honey, medicinal herbs, timber, etc.)? 7) Could you please draw a map of your villages, indicating rivers, forests, and distances to other villages and the different landscapes you find when you walk to these villages? Thank you!

18 Appendix 5: Pygmy hippo survey data sheet.

19 Appendix 6: Memorandum of Understanding regarding pygmy hippo education and conservation activities between the University of Georgia/April Conway, the Across the River – A Transboundary Peace Park for Sierra Leone and Liberia Project (ARTP) and the Environmental Foundation for Africa (EFA)/FoSED.

Memorandum of Understanding

Regarding Pygmy hippo education and conservation in Sierra Leone

Parties:

University of Georgia/April Conway

Across the River – A Transboundary Peace Park for Sierra Leone and Liberia Project (ARTP)

Environmental Foundation for Africa (EFA)/FoSED

The above partners wish to collaborate until July 2011 (with a potential for extension). FoSED will collaborate, to the extent that is possible, in joint educational/outreach activities as mandated in the project objectives/activities in targeted communities. The collaboration concerns following points as much as timing and financial constraints allow it:

Material: - Posters - T-shirts - Murals (Schools, barris) - Bumper stickers - Pens and pencils If wanted, EFA can use the basic lay out of the poster that was developed by April Conway (Copyright) and the Pygmy hippo conservation project of the ARTP. They can add their logo and modify the poster in consultation with April Conway (and the ARTP Pygmy hippo conservation team). April Conway and the ARTP Pygmy hippo conservation team will be happy to give input and add ideas during the development of the new material. The ARTP will be able to contribute 500 $ for materials, April Conway will contribute 300$ for T-Shirts and bumper stickers.

Visits in schools and activities with other community members: - Slide shows (April Conway will develop it with help of partners) - Video shows - Competition (e.g. quiz, drama, essays, drawings) - Environmental education games - Nature clubs/Eco clubs - Wall paintings - Youth groups - Women’s groups - Law enforcement officers - Other groups All partners will provide a list of schools and villages to be visited. Meetings will be held on a two monthly basis to coordinate joint activities. First, schools in the chiefdom headquarters will be visited. Certain schools will be chosen for murals.

20 All partners will provide a list of questions and ideas for competitions and games for discussion in (conservation in general, pygmy hippo biased).

Field trips: - 1-day field trips are prizes for competitions in schools. These trips will happen 1-2 times until July 2011 for a group of 10-15 children. - Children should come from different areas (Bo, Kenema, small towns, villages) TIAC will be officially informed about the planned field trips and will be asked for support by waiving/reducing entrance fees for the children and people involved in the field trip. Collaboration partners will try to raise funds (see “Other joint activities) for fuel, food and other costs related to the field trips. EFA and the ARTP may provide vehicles. All partners will contribute to education of children during their visit.

Other joint activities: - Radio and tv programs - Fund raising (shops, banks, embassies, NGOs, cell phone companies etc.) Whenever the possibility arises all partners try to raise awareness for pygmy hippo conservation. In case of plans for collaboration with media, partners will be informed so that they can give input or take part. The partners will develop a letter that can be presented to possible funders. Partners will share the effort to contact the different potential funders.

Logistics: - Transport - Equipment - Networking The ARTP will provide transport whenever possible in agreement with the management of the project. Transport within the ARTP area should always be provided by them. EFA will provide transport whenever possible. April Conway provides two motorbikes. April Conway provides a projector, a PA system and a generator (in her presence). ARTP will try to provide a projector, a PA system and a generator for activities taking place within the ARTP area. EFA may also be able to provide a projector. All partners can provide a laptop for slide shows.

Staff education: - Training All partners will provide training to other partners and their staff whenever it is needed and enhances the performance of staff. This training includes e.g. the use of GPS, of camera traps or plant identification. Training units might be combined in the form of staff workshops.

Meetings: Meetings will be held every two months. The ARTP research scientist and pygmy hippo education officer will call for the meeting and prepare an agenda.

Collaboration work, workshops, and meetings on Tiwai, in the Transboundary area and in the Gola Forest National Park All partners are free to meet and work on Tiwai, in the ARTP area and in the Gola Forest National Park in consultation with the respective responsible partner. No research and entrance fees will occur and reasonable charges for accommodation (if needed) will be discussed. For Tiwai, this request will be addressed to TIAC, as EFA is not entitled to decide on reduction or waiving of fees.

21 Appendix 7: List of schools visited by the education officer of the pygmy hippo conservation project, in 11 schools together with April Conway (University of Georgia) and Victor Momoh (EFA/FoSED).

1) Barri Islamic Sec. School, Potoru 2) McGrath Primary School, Gbongay 3) District Council Pri. School, Massah 4) R. C Primary School, Futtah Pejeh 5) R.C Primary School, Vaama – Barrie 6) Alcodus Islamic Primary Sch. Nyaniahun 7) National Islamic Primary Sch. Saahun 8) Primary School, Kambama 9) Primary school Gorahun R.C.Primary School 10) Tunkia Junior Secondary School 11) SLMB primary school, Pewa 12) Holy Rosary Secondary School, Kenema 13) Every Nation Academy School, Kenema 14) Saint Paul’s Primary School, Kenema

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