INVESTIGATING THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF PYGMY HIPPOPOTAMUS IN SAPO NATIONAL PARK

Aim of the internship: This internship aims at building the capacity of young Liberian Conservation professional through applied ecological research

Location: Sapo National Park, Sapo Conservation Centre Jalay’s Town, Upper Weljah Sinoe County, Republic of Liberia

Dates of the internship: May 2015-April 2016

Sponsoring institution: Conservation Leadership Program (CLP) Name of Intern: James W. Gbeaduh

Supervisor: Matthew Varney Technical Assistant for Sapo Conservation Centre Flora & Flora International- Liberia Matthew.varney@fauna-flora.org

Executive summaryThis internship is aim at building the capacity of young Liberian conservation professional through applied ecological research. It is meant to increase the technical capacity for conservation of Liberia biodiversity and also contributes significantly to Liberia’s National Biodiversity Action Plan, specifically the National Pygmy Hippopotamus Action Plan of 2010. The internship project has two major objectives, namely, to conduct an ecological research on Pygmy hippopotamus and to carryout conservation education in school around Sapo National Park with particular focus on the Pygmy hippopotamus. Ecological data were collected in the field through the monitoring of line transects and the deployment of camera traps. In May 2015, 24 blocks of Bushnell cameras were deployed in SNP Management Zone One (the park is divided into three management zones) for a period of 30 days. Cameras were mounted approximately 2km apart from each other. The result of the camera traps reconfirmed the existence of the species after been discovered in the past five years. Of the 24 cameras deployed, 4 provided photograph of Pygmy hippopotamus (See appendix A). All the images captured were during the night time. A total of 507 school children participated in the conservation education awareness in nine selected community schools around the Sapo National Park management Zone 1, showing marked improvement in their knowledge of the Pygmy hippopotamus.

Section 1.1: IntroductionSapo National Park (SNP) is Liberia’s only national park. It makes up one of the last three blocks of contiguous forests in the Upper Guinean Rain Forest, and is home to several species of global conservation value, including one of the last remaining populations of the Pygmy Hippopotamus (Choeropis liberiensis). Classified as Endangered on the IUCN’s Red list (IUCN 2016), the Pygmy hippopotamus is one of Liberia’s protected species with research showing that the park contained the largest population of the species (Lewison and Oliver 2008). Although illegal miners were evacuated from the park in 2010, miners are returning to SNP thereby affecting the existence of species (FFI, 2016).

To secure the unique biodiversity in SNP, Fauna & Flora International (FFI) working in collaboration with the Forestry Development Authority is supporting the long-term conservation of Pygmy hippopotamus and other species in Sapo National Park through a biannual biomonitoring and camera-trapping programme. As part of this effort, this internship was used to conduct both ecological research and conservation education among school children on the conservation status of the Endangered Pygmy hippopotamus. The main objective of this internship was to work in collaboration with the SNP biomonitoring team to determine the distribution, population density and threats facing the species, and as well educate school children around the park about the importance of conserving these species.

Section 2: Aim and Objectives

The internship was aimed at building the capacity of young Liberian conservation professionals through applied ecological research. It was hoped that the internship would increase the technical capacity of the intern for the conservation of Liberia biodiversity, while also contributing to Liberia’s National Biodiversity Action Plan; specifically the National Pygmy Hippopotamus Action Plan developed in 2010.

The objectives of the internship were: 1. To collect, analyze and publish data on Pygmy Hippopotamus population density,

distribution and threats in Sapo National Park; and2. To conduct conservation education in schools around Sapo National Park about the

important of conserving endangered species most especially the Pygmy Hippopotamus.

MethodologyTransects surveyFFI in collaboration with the Liberian Forestry Development Authority has been conducting regular biomonitoring across SNP along a system of 90 transects (2 km each) to determine the distribution, population density and anthropogenic threat affecting species of global conservation concern. This study used the 2015 data from biomonitoring along transects coupled with camera trapping to determine the distribution of the Endangered Pygmy hippopotamus in SNP. The transect survey involved a team of six persons slowly walking on predefined transect lines and recording direct observation of the indicator species such as the Pygmy hippopotamus, African Forest Elephant, Bongo, Duikers etc or signs such as dung, tracks and trails. Of the 90 transects, a total of 62 transects (128 km total effort) were surveyed across the park.

Camera trapping 24 cameras (Bushnell Trophy HD) were deployed in a standard GPS grid format of 2km interval for an observation period of 30days. Since Pygmy hippopotamus is a nocturnal species, cameras were programmed to photograph wildlife twenty four hours per day. The time interval for activation is usually 30 seconds with 3 snaps per image. Cameras were mounted about 3 to 5 meters away from animal trails. Before a camera was mounted, the team ensured to identify an active animal trail at the predefined GPS point. In the case where the GPS coordinates did not intersect at an active trail, the camera was relocated to the nearest active trail adjacent the marked coordinates. Cameras were usually deployed at the height of 40cm above the ground to accommodate the height of the targeted species. Garmin 62s handheld GPS was used to locate points during this study.

Conservation education Sapo National Park is divided into three management zones (Zone 1 South-west, Zone 2 North and Zone 3 East of the park) with the park headquarters located in Jalay’s Town, Zone 1 (Figure 1). Nine community schools (Table 1) in Zone 1 were selected for the conservation education awareness. These schools were divided into two categories based on their distance away from the park boundary; category 1included schools that are close to the park at an estimated distance of 1-5km and Category 2 included schools that are far away from the park at estimated distance of 6-10km. The conservation education was meant for students between the ages of 9-17year old. In

each school the kids were further divided into two groups (9-12years and 13-17years respectively) because of their level of understanding of the subject matter. We predicted that children above 12 years will comprehend better and be in higher classes as compared to those below 12 years. A total of three hours per day was spent at each school. Simple questionnaires (Appendix) were used to evaluate the students before and after the conservation education program in order to assess their knowledge of Liberia’s threatened species to evaluate the impact of the training, by noting any improvement in knowledge afterwards. A picture of the endangered Pygmy hippopotamus was also used to test their identification skills.

Figure 1: Sapo National Park in south-eastern Liberia

Table 1.0 shows the list of schools visited during the awarenessNo.

Name of school Category Estimated distance from the park

Status

1 Upper Wedjah Puhlic School 1 3km Elementary School2 Chewlue Town Public School 1 5km Elementary School3 Kieh Town Standard Public

School1 5km Elementary School

4 Chebioh Town Elementary School

1 4km Elementary School

5 Wylie Christian Academy 2 7.3km Senior High

School6 Lewis Wah Elementary School 2 7.1km Elementary School7 Jaurzon Public School 7.5km High School8 Lower Jaurzon Public School 2 7.4km Elementary School9. Korjaryee 2 6km Elementary School

Output and resultsPygmy hippopotamus surveyOf the 62 transects surveyed during this study, 18 signs (6 dung, 12 tracks) of Pygmy hippo were recorded on 11 transects. These 18 signs account for 22 individuals recorded mostly in Zone 1 of the Park (Figures 2 & 3.). The data accumulated from the monitoring of transects were used to map the distribution of Pygmy Hippopotamus across Sapo National Park (Figure 3).

For the camera trapping, of the 24 camera traps deployed, the species was captured on four camera traps. This limited number of camera trap events could not be used to estimate population density as advised by Rowcliffe et al. (2008). However, results from this study will inform conservation decision for this species and the distribution map generated will serve as a research tool for further research on this endangered species. Similarly, the camera trapping images will be used for further conservation awareness initiatives to be conducted by the park management and other interested institutions.

Dung Track02468

101214

Hippo observations in SNP

Type of Sign

Num

ber o

f ind

ivid

uals

Figure 2; Records of Pygmy hippo signs in SNP during biomonitoring

Figure 3: Shows the 2015 distribution of Pygmy hippopotamus in SNP

Conservation education A total of 507 school children participated in the conservation education awareness in nine selected community schools around the Sapo National Park management Zone one. Of the 507 students, 14% were able to identify the Pygmy hippopotamus image on the flyer and 2% were able to name at least two protected species of Liberia sometimes including Pygmy hippo during the pre-evaluation exercise (Figure 2.1). Students from schools close to the park boundary (category 1) had high identification skills of the species when compared to students from schools in category 2. However, students of schools far away from the park (category 2) could name more protected species than the latter category. This difference could probably be because some of the schools that are located far from the park (Category 2) such as Juarzon Public School and Wylie Christian Academy have large attendance and are highly populated than the schools close to the park. Also, these schools are located in somewhat exposed communities and have access to good teachers compared to the others that are more remote. For example, the elementary school in Kieh Town has only two teachers for a school population of about 37 students in six classes. To measure the level of improvement after the conservation education awareness, these students were also evaluated thereafter. Of the 507 students, 72% were able to identify the species, and 47% could name at least two protected species of Liberia (Figure 2.2). The results of this study show how children can easily grasp concepts of conservation when taught which in turn can change their behavior toward protected species. One of the major impacts of this study is that children in Zone 1 of SNP to some extend now know about the importance of conserving biodiversity, most especially the endangered Pygmy Hippopotamus. At the same time, those children who could not even identify the Pygmy Hippopotamus image during the initial-evaluation exercise now know about the species ecology, conservation status and major threats. A conservation song that was introduced to these children is now a part of their repertoire of songs used during playtime.

ID of P. hippo Able to name PA0

0.51

1.52

2.53

3.54

4.55

Pre- evaluation of students

Category 1Category 2

no. o

f stu

dent

s

Figure 2.1 shows the average number of students in each category. The nine schools were divided into two categories {Schools close to the park (Category 1) & schools far from the park (category 2)}. The phrase ‘ID of P. hippo’ means Identification of Pygmy hippo and ‘PA’ means Liberia’s protected animals.

ID of P. hippo Able to name PA0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Post evaluation of students

Category 1Category 2

no.

of S

tude

nts

Figure 2.2 Shows the average numbers of students in each category been evaluated after the conservation education.

Achievements and impactsThe result of the internship program was fruitful and its impact is wildly felt throughout zone 1 and its surrounding where both ecological research and conservation education program were carried out. Personally, this internship has helped me tremendously in supporting my career goals and ambitions of becoming a conservationist to contribute to the protection of Liberia’s biodiversity. It has further smooth the path of my career and created an avenue to network and interacts with diverse groups of people from different cultural, social, ethical and professional background. It has developed my research skills, enhance my personality traits and make me to possess strong communication skills and work in difficult terrain of high conservation value. Moving forward in my career endeavor, I am confident that these skills will be essential for me in the future.

External influences and changes to internshipOne of the major external influences that affected my internship was environmental variables such as rain, wild and extreme weather condition. During the rainy season at Sapo the forest becomes dangerous for researchers or conservationist to carryout survey. This time, one night rain fall may cause river or water level to rise up to 2meters and robust trees are easily broken down by heavy wind and rain. At night-time, flooding of the forest may damage tents and cause the team to unceremoniously relocate to another place. The rainy season usually start in April with the peak occurring in August to September. Moreover, during this time, the main road connecting Sapo to Monrovia may become deployable and travelling to the park may be even more difficult. This can cause drastic delay in work and even bring to a standstill planned activities.

Section 3: ConclusionThis internship opportunity was my first step in my career path. At the beginning I could not understand how my project was going to lead to fruition. Due to smart work and delegation, I was able to overcome these challenges. In the future more work is need to be done on the Pygmy hippopotamus and improvement in conservation education program by establishing a conservation forum, taking the children in the field and teaching them to understand biodiversity immense contribution toward our wellbeing. Two days of conservation awareness may not be sufficient to provide students detail information because some of the children are slow learners. By enshrining conservation courses in to school curriculum will increase the potential for children to learn more about biodiversity issues and become better steward of Liberia’s natural resources. I have acquired a lot of skill from this internship project e.g. I have been trained in biomonitoring, species identification, camera trapping survey, sustainable livelihood, field equipment usages and data processing and analysis. These skills will be use in the future where I can be opportune to work with renowned conservation organization. The next step in my career is to continue my education.

AcknowledgementsMy sincere thanks and gratitude goes to Dr. Mary Molokwu Odozi- FFI-Liberia Country & Operations Manager for affording me this glorious opportunity to serve as CLP-Intern. Madam, you will forever be remembered in my career endeavor for all of the technical assistance renders me during the course of the program. My internship has come to fruition primarily due to your prodigious vision to build the capacity of young Liberia conservation professionals. I also want to acknowledge and extend special thanks and appreciation to my immediate boss, Shadrach Kerwillain-FFI Technical Advisor for Conservation, Outreach & Education for his contribution and administrative supervision during the course of my internship. I owe great appreciation to my immediate supervisor, Matthew Varney-FFI Technical Assistant for SCC who has been the brain behind my internship success. He has been very instrumental in providing empirical information, field based procedure and guidance. Your constant supports were vital to achieving my internship goal and objective. I also want to pay special appreciate to Benedictus Freeman, FFI Technical Assistant for his continue supports, he has been really helpful in editing my work, producing a GIS map for my survey and among others. Many thanks also to all of FFI staff who names I am unable to mention due to limited space.Thanks a million to my CLP Coordinator, Laura Owens. Not forgetting our local partner, Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and the staff of Sapo National Park.

Section 4: Appendices

Images of Pygmy Hippopotamus capture during the 2015 Camera trapping survey in SNP Zone 1.

School Conservation Education program in SNP Zone one

Lewis Wah Elementary (immediate upper left), Wylie Christian Academy (Upper right), the Chewlue Town Elementary School (bottom left) and the Chebioh Town Elementary School (bottom right) are some of the communities’ school that received the conservation education. These students possess high potential for learning and the adjacent natural ecosystem services provided by the Sapo forest underpin their wellbeing and make the environment ideal for learning. Students with great desire for learning in the rural areas are usually affected by limited educational materials and qualify and trained staff.

FFI-SNP/SCC Camera trapping data sheet-Zone onedata to collect Site:A5-12 Site:A6-09 Site:A5-15 Site:A5-08 Site:C3-06Code: 15/05-A5-12 15/05-A6-09 15/05-A5-15 15/05-A5-08 15/05-C3-6UTM X: 0525640 0525638 0525636 0525659 0524610UTM Y: 0590934 0590856 0590858 0590965 0588738Mounting date: 05-12-2015 05-12-2015 05-12-2015 05-12-2015 05-13-2015Name(s): James

Kolubah & Thomas

James Kolubah & Thomas

James Kolubah & Thomas

James Kolubah & Thomas

James Kolubah & Thomas

Time: 11:41 12:00 12:30 13:30 8:08Elevation: 52m 71m 101.0m 108m 119mDistance to centre of trail:

2.7m 2.2m 3.0m 3.4m 2.6m

Description of location:

River edge Trail intersection

Trail intersection

Animal trail Animal trail

Reason for choice of site:

Pygmy Hippo trial

Pygmy hippo trial

Pygmy Hippo trial

Trail intersection

Duikers trails

Habitat type: Primary forest Primary forest Primary forest Primary forest Primary forestCanopy cover (%)

50% 75% 80% 80% 90%

Ground cover(%)

50% 60% 75% 75% 60%

data to collect Site:B4-18 Site: B6-24 Site:C7-27 Site:F4-11 Site:E3-28Code: 15/05-B4-18 15/05 B6-24 15/05 C7-27 15/05 F4-11 15/05 E3-28UTM X: 0525243 0527180 0526534 0526128 0525224UTM Y: 0589808 0590329 0589245 0586005 0586787Mounting date: 05-13-2015 05-13-2015 05-13-2015 05-14-2015 05-14-2015Name(s): James

Kolubah & Thomas

James Kolubah & Thomas

James Kolubah & Thomas

James Kolubah & Thomas

James Kolubah & Thomas

Time: 8:51 10:04 11:34 10:52 11:47Elevation: 101m 112m 84m 84m 108mDistance to centre of trail:

2.2m 2.5m 2.4m 2.3m 2.8m

Description of location:

Trail intersection

Trail intersection

Thatch swamp Trail intersection

Thatch swamp

Reason for choice of site:

Duiker trails Animal trails Duiker trails Animals trails Animals trails

Habitat type: Primary Rain forest

Primary Rain forest

Primary Rain forest

Primary Rain forest

Primary Rain forest

Canopy cover (%)

85% 75% 85% 75% 65%

Ground cover (%)

50% 50% 60% 50% 50%

FFI-SNP/SCC Camera trapping data sheet-Zone one

data to collect Site:H2-03 Site:H2-41 Site:H3-14 Site:H4-02 Site:H4-05Code: 15/05:H2-03 15/05:H2-41 15/05 H3-14 15/05 H4-02 15/05 H4-05UTM X: 0549157 0549150 0548921 0549076 0549112UTM Y: 0598995 0598995 0598045 0598004 0598032Mounting date: 05-17-2015 05-17-2015 05-17-2015 05-18-2015 05-18-2015Name(s): James and

ThomasJames & Thomas

James & Thomas

James, Regina & Thomas

James, Regina & Thomas

Time: 15:30 15:45 16:27 7:33 7:50Elevation: 29m 57m 105m 75m 87mDistance to centre of trail:

4.5m 2.7m 3.4m 4.2m 3.66m

Description of location:

River edge River edge River edge River edge River edge

Reason for choice of site:

Elephant, pygmy Hippo trail

Animal trail Animal trail Elephant, Pygmy Hippo trail

Elephant, Pygmy Hippo trail

Habitat type: Primary Rainforest

Primary Rainforest

Primary Rainforest

Primary Rainforest

Primary Rainforest

Canopy cover (%)

70% 70% 80% 80% 85%

Ground cover(%)

50% 20% 60% 20% 40%

data to collect Site:I3-16 Site:J3-31 Site:J2-17 Site:I2-29 Site:H1-42Code: 15/05- I3-16 15/05- J3-31 15/05- J2-17 15/05- I2-29 15/05-H1-42UTM X: 0547824 0547028 0547188 0548230 0549411UTM Y: 0598301 0598644 0599477 0599183 0600006Mounting date: 05-18-2015 05-18-2015 05-18-2015 05-18-2015 05-19-2015Name(s): James, Regina

& ThomasJames, Regina & Thomas

James, Regina & Thomas

James, Regina & Thomas

James, & Thomas

Time: 9:40 11:11 13:14 15:20 8:34Elevation: 122m 130m 159m 198m 103mDistance to centre of trail:

2.48m 2.7m 2.4m 2.6m 3.3m

Description of location:

Trail intersection

Trail intersection

Trail intersection

Animal trail Thatch swamp

Reason for choice of site:

Animal trail Animal trail Animal trail Duikers trail Animal trail

Habitat type: Primary Rainforest

Primary Rainforest

Primary Rainforest

Primary Rainforest

Primary Rainforest

Canopy cover (%)

75% 70% 85% 80% 75%

Ground cover(%)

50% 60% 50% 50% 60%

FFI-SNP/SCC Camera trapping data sheet-Zone one-phase twodata to collect Site:I1-30 Site:J1-26 Site: J1-15 Site: H2-05 Site:Code: 15/05 15/05 15/03-A1-15 15/03-D2-05UTM X: 0548501 0547476 0522203 0523955UTM Y: 0600520 0600436 0589994 0587436Mounting date: 05-19-2015 05-19-2015 05/19/15 05/19/15Name(s): James, &

ThomasJames, & Thomas

James, Kolubah and Thomas

James, Kolubah and Jerome

Time: 10:08 11:37 13:34 14:27Elevation: 109m 184m 107m 106mDistance to centre of trail:

3.6m 3.3m 2.7m 3m

Description of location:

Trail intersection

Hill range River bank Thatch swamp

Reason for choice of site:

Duiker trail Animal trail Animals trail BuffaloFootprint

Habitat type: Primary Rainforest

Primary Rainforest

Primary forest Primary forest

Canopy cover (%)

75 80 75 80

Ground cover(%)

20 10 50 40

Questionnaires used doing the Conservation Education Awareness1. Do you know Sapo National Park?2. What are some of the animals you know live in Sapo National Park?3. Can you name at least two animals that the government say people should not

kill (protected animals of Liberia)4. Which animal is on this poster? (A picture of the Pygmy hippopotamus is

shown to the kids on the poster for identification).

Bibliography1. Lewison, R. & Oliver, W. (2008) Choeropsis liberiensis. In: IUCN 2010.

IUCN Red list of Threatened Species. Version 2010. www.iucnredlist.org. Downloaded on December 2015.

2. Mallon, D. et al. (2010) Conservation Strategy for the Pygmy Hippopotamus

Workshop, Liberia, West Africa, IUCN SSC Pygmy Hippo sub-group to the Hippo Specialist group and the IUCN SSC Species Conservation Planning sub-committee, p. 5

3. Rowcliffe, J.M., FIELD, J., Turvey, S.T & CARBONE, C. (2008), Estimating animal density using camera traps without the need for individual recongition. Journal of Applied Ecology , 45, 1228-1236.