From 3-8th August 2008, the XXII Congress of the International Primatological Society was held in Edinburgh, UK. A two-hour roundtable workshop entitled 'Pan troglodytes vellerosus: State of knowledge and future plans for research and conservation of an understudied ape' (abstract [PDF, 73kb]) was held. Participants in the workshop discussed the state-of-knowledge for these apes and reached consensus on future efforts to understand and improve the conservation status of populations. One of most significant outcomes was to initiate the production of a Conservation Action Plan to coordinate research and conservation activities as well as to generate interest and attract funding.

In addition, a symposium entitled "Biology and conservation of the most endangered apes in Africa: Gorilla gorilla diehli and Pan troglodytes vellerosus" (abstract [PDF, 92kb]) was held. Invited speakers discussed the taxonomy, population histories, virology, ecology, behavior and conservation status of the great apes in Nigeria and Cameroon.

As a result of these discussions, it was decided to move forward with applying for funding to hold a series of workshops within the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee range to develop a Conservation Action Plan for this subspecies. Funding has currently been secured from the Arcus Foundation and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service's Great Ape Conservation Fund to hold these workshops, with supplementary funding from other supporters. Phase 1 of the workshops will be held in Limbe, Cameroon and Calabar, Nigeria in October 2009; Phase 2 is envisaged for February 2010 in Limbe. Delegates will include those conducting conservation and research on the ground on this species, as well as Government representatives with responsibility for protection of the subspecies within its range. Regular updates on the progress of these workshops will be posted on this site, and as usual, those with suggestions or additional information are requested to contact us.