Community Conservation in Action in Cameroon

In November 2024, Trentham Monkey Forest supported a conservation project through the Primate Society of Great Britain focused on engaging local communities in protecting endangered primates in Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary.

The project ran throughout 2025 and centred on the conservation of the Cross River gorilla and the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee. A key part of the work involved building skills within local communities so that conservation efforts could be led by the people who live closest to the forest.

Five community members from Besali, Bechati and Folepi took part in training to become conservation rangers. They learned how to install and manage camera traps, record wildlife data and follow safety measures to reduce risks to both people and animals.

After the training, the team installed ten camera traps across the sanctuary. Over 280 trap nights, these cameras recorded a range of wildlife and provided insight into how animals use the forest.

Nine species were recorded, including chimpanzees, drills, Preuss’s monkeys and bay duikers. Chimpanzees were the most commonly captured species, making up more than 60 percent of the observations. Images showed a mix of adults, juveniles and infants, which suggests a stable and reproducing population.

One notable result was the capture of a drill on camera. This is a species that is rarely recorded in the area and highlights the importance of the sanctuary for threatened wildlife.

No Cross River gorilla were recorded during the project. This is not entirely unexpected given how rare and difficult they are to detect. Their absence highlights the need for continued protection of their habitat and ongoing monitoring.

The project also had a strong impact within the local communities. The trained rangers are now actively involved in conservation work and are supporting monitoring activities with forestry services and other organisations. Their role in the project has helped build local knowledge and a sense of ownership over protecting wildlife.

There were some challenges along the way, including equipment loss, weather conditions and increasing transport costs. Despite this, the project continued to deliver useful data and strengthen community involvement.

This work shows the value of combining scientific monitoring with local knowledge. By supporting projects like this in Cameroon, Trentham Monkey Forest is helping to support long-term conservation of endangered primates and their habitats.