Nigerian Chimpanzee (Pan troglogytes ellioti)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 1025977

Mission To promote national and International commitment to the conservation of Nigeria’s montane forests and their rare flora and fauna by inspiring excellence in postgraduate research and empowering local communities through employment and education. Objectves 1. To combine scientific research with education at both tertiary and community level in order to effectively manage Nigeria’s montane forests for their rare flora and fauna. 2. To facilitate national and international researchers in conservation projects around rare flora and fauna. 3. To involve the community in the management and conservation of montane forest ecosystems. 4. To actively promote forest restoration through restoration, protection and management. Date established 2003 Geographic Area it covers The North East corner of Taraba State, Nigeria. Mambilla Plateau and the Gotel Mountains. Target species/habitats in which it works Nigerian montane forests and their associated fauna, especially the Nigerian Chimpanzee, the putty nose monkey and associated Endangered taxa (see below). African montane forests (typically above 1500 m elevation) are one of the rarest forest types in Africa. They are especially significant in as much as they are ‘hotspots’ of species diversity with satellite populations of many rare species of plants and animals restricted to African mountains. Biodiversity of Nigerian mountain forests is less well known than that of any other African montane region, but enough is known of the Nigerian highland biota know that they harbour rare genetic satellite populations of more widely dispersed montane species, as well as numerous un-described endemics. Only one-percent of Nigeria’s montane forests survive, and are restricted to the remote Taraba and Adamawa States. They harbour over 24 IUCN Endangered tree species and are rich in wildlife, especially primates including the Nigerian Chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes ellioti. P. ellioti is the most endangered subspecies of chimpanzee in Africa, and these forests are important habitat for it. The rare subspecies of putty nose monkey Cercopithecus nictitans? martini is also present. The forest is a Birdlife International Important Bird Area (IBA), and is home to at least 19 species of IBA restricted species. A1- Globally Threatened; A2-Restricted Range; A3- Biome Restricted: Bannerman's Weaver (Ploceus bannermani), A1, A2, A3; Crossley's Ground-thrush (Zoothera crossleyi) A1; Cameroon Sunbird (Nectarinia oritis), A2, A3; Yellow-breasted Boubou (Laniarius atroflavus), A2, A3; Brown-backed Cisticola (Cisticola discolor), A2, A3; Western Mountain Greenbul (Andropadus tephrolaemus), A2, A3; Cameroon Olive Greenbul (Phyllastrephus poensis), A2, A3; Black-capped Woodland-warbler (Phylloscopus herberti), A2, A3; Cameroon Olive-pigeon (Columba sjostedti), A3;Bar-tailed Trogon (Apaloderma vittatum), A3;Western Green-tinkerbird (Pogoniulus coryphaeus), A3; White-bellied Crested-flycatcher (Elminia albiventris), A3;Black-collared Apalis (Apalis pulchra), A3;African Hill Babbler (Pseudoalcippe abyssinica), A3; Northern Double-collared Sunbird (Nectarinia preussi), A3;Baglafecht Weaver (Ploceus baglafecht), A3;Brown-capped Weaver (Ploceus insignis), A3;Fernando Po Oliveback (Nesocharis shelleyi), A3;Oriole Finch (Linurgus olivaceus), A3. Many taxa in these forests remain un-described. For example 3 species of frog new to science were recently discovered during a short field trip, and a new Memycylon sp. (tree). Website http://www.biol.canterbury.ac.nz/NMF_project/references.shtml