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Mayhew M, Wolovich C, Saho L, Barry S, Barry M, Njie I, Bah B, Sidibeh A, Badjie Z, Cramer JD, Linder J. Researchers join forces to conserve red colobus (Piliocolobus badius temminckii) in West Africa. Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23576. [PMID: 37971061 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The recent development of the Red Colobus Conservation Action Plan has spurred momentum to promote site-based conservation of red colobus while forging partnerships among researchers and building local capacity. Communities for Red Colobus (C4RC) is a community-centered conservation organization in The Gambia, West Africa, that aims to protect Temminck's red colobus (Piliocolobus badius temminckii) while advancing opportunities for local people. We highlight the inception and initial development of C4RC with its educational and ranger teams and describe how local and international collaborations have positively impacted the organization through training and mentoring programs. This conservation program has the potential to become sustainable with plans for continued ecological monitoring, reforestation efforts, use of alternative methods of cooking, and the expansion of ecotourism. We hope that the dissemination of project information through Gambian broadcast and social media channels and wider community outreach activities will improve perceptions and conservation of primates and inspire the development of other red colobus initiatives at suitable forest sites based on the C4RC model of community-based conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Mayhew
- Communities for Red Colobus Project, Sambel Kunda, The Gambia
- Institute of Science, Natural Resources and Outdoor Studies, University of Cumbria, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK
| | - Christy Wolovich
- Department of Biology, Florida Southern College, Lakeland, Florida, USA
| | - Lamin Saho
- Communities for Red Colobus Project, Sambel Kunda, The Gambia
| | - Samsideen Barry
- Communities for Red Colobus Project, Sambel Kunda, The Gambia
| | - Meta Barry
- Institute of Science, Natural Resources and Outdoor Studies, University of Cumbria, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK
| | - Idrissa Njie
- Institute of Science, Natural Resources and Outdoor Studies, University of Cumbria, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK
| | - Buba Bah
- Institute of Science, Natural Resources and Outdoor Studies, University of Cumbria, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK
| | - Abdourahman Sidibeh
- Institute of Science, Natural Resources and Outdoor Studies, University of Cumbria, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK
| | - Zainab Badjie
- Institute of Science, Natural Resources and Outdoor Studies, University of Cumbria, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK
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