An Eight-Year Journey for Odudu: CERCOPAN Mangabeys Return to the Forest

Zena Tooze, CERCOPAN Founder and Director
August 2004

It was the rainy season of 1996 when Odudu, an infant red-capped mangabey, was taken from her dead mother, who had been shot for bushmeat. This particular little forest monkey (a member of the species Cercocebus torquatus) was more fortunate than many other bushmeat orphans because she was brought to CERCOPAN, a primate and rainforest conservation center headquartered in Calabar, southern Nigeria. After some discussion, her captor was persuaded by CERCOPAN keepers and volunteer Lynne Baker to donate Odudu to the rehabilitation center. (To read more about CERCOPAN’s conservation activities, see Lynne’s IPPL News articles "One Monkey’s Worth," "Beating the Bushmeat Business," and "There’s a Monkey in My Classroom," all published in April 1998.)

After a three-month quarantine period, Odudu joined three other mangabeys and became the dominant female in her group ("Odudu" means "powerful woman" in the local language). She met Manray, the dominant male, and eventually had four offspring of her own: Osun, Offiong, Otu (the only boy!), and Odenke. She even became a grandmother when Osun recently delivered her first child, Olly. Until December 2003, life at CERCOPAN was stable for Odudu, her family, and friends.

But unknown to CERCOPAN’s growing monkey population (which now includes over 30 mangabeys), special plans had been put in motion. Odudu was about to experience life beyond the confines of her cozy 18 x 12 x 12 foot enclosure-for the first time since her infancy.

Mangabeys enjoying forest living

Monkeys get a helicopter ride

On December 1, 2003, everything suddenly got very exciting! Odudu and a number of other CERCOPAN mangabeys were sedated, boxed, and flown in a helicopter from their long-time home in Calabar to CERCOPAN’s very first open-topped rainforest enclosure.

So much hard work and cooperation had gone into making this transition happen. In the first place, the village of Iko Esai had provided access to the forest, which now lies under an agreement between CERCOPAN and the chiefs (and community) of Iko Esai. In fact, over 3,000 hectares (7,400 acres) of forest are protected through this partnership.

Next, the staff and volunteers of CERCOPAN had worked for almost a full year to build the enclosure, under challenging climatic conditions and with limited materials. Finally, many people and organizations from around the world made contributions to the ultimate success of the project: Monkey World, who in 2002 provided the design, materials, and funds for the enclosure; Houston Zoo, who donated funds to build the combined keeper/veterinary shed; Addax, who loaned CERCOPAN the helicopter; and Bristow Helicopters, who transported everyone safely. And there were many more.

The arrival of a helicopter laden with red-capped mangabey monkeys was probably the most fantastic event that has ever happened in the village. A few thousand people were present to welcome the arrival of the monkeys on that amazing day, including the traditional dance group clad in their dancing bangles and decorations and, of course, the chiefs in all their finery. Children from all the local schools showed up on parade, singing their welcome, and the music and tempo rose to new heights as the chopper made its decent.

New enclosure a success

The actual release went extremely well. At first, Odudu and her friends were placed in a smaller (satellite) enclosure, where they could see, hear, and sense the forest around them-was this jogging distant memories for Odudu? Then, after an acclimatization period, the door was opened to the large forest enclosure and she took her first steps in eight years without fencing over her head, back in her natural forest habitat. This was a bit scary at first, and the group stayed in tight formation. Odudu’s daughter Osun did not let little Olly leave her side. But after a while everyone was leaping and jumping around, exploring their new home.

Eighteen mangabeys in total have been moved to the new forest enclosure at Iko Esai. Odudu is the alpha female and the oldest of the mangabeys there. The other seven adults include Clyde, Jamie, Amanda, Banja, Demola, Sunday, and Zombi. All of them have had their mothers shot for bushmeat when they were tiny infants, before being dragged off to markets and villages across Nigeria.

Fortunately, they were donated to CERCOPAN, and spent their first few years with us getting mentally and physically healthy and learning how to live with other monkeys again. The other ten released mangabeys were born in captivity as part of CERCOPAN’s conservation program for this threatened species. Some of them are now adults with their own offspring.

Like Odudu, I also found the release very exciting. It was what I had been working towards for the last nine years. The only word that came from me as I saw the first mangabeys move from the satellite to the forest enclosure was "Wow!" The mangabey keeper, Austin Igbebor, was equally lost for words, and could only say, "They are so happy, so very happy."

After two months, the mangabeys were joined by a group of seven mona monkeys (five wild-born rescued monas and two who were captive born) to form the first mixed-species group in a forest monkey rehabilitation project. Thanks to the staff and supporters of CERCOPAN, all the monkeys are doing well.

We’re 10 years old in 2005!

CERCOPAN, the Centre for Education Research of Conservation of Primates and Nature, is a not-for-profit NGO (non-governmental organization) based in southern Nigeria’s Cross River State, in West Africa. CERCOPAN will be celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2005. CERCOPAN’s mission is to conserve Nigeria’s primates through sustainable rainforest conservation, community education, primate rehabilitation, and research. IPPL, Cyril Rosen and Shirley McGreal have been friends and supporters of CERCOPAN from the beginning, and the support of IPPL members has been critical for the organization’s continued growth, particularly in caring for over 100 monkeys, all of whom were orphaned by the bushmeat trade.

THANK YOU, IPPL A huge "thank you" goes to IPPL members from me and all the staff and monkeys of CERCOPAN for all of your support over the years (and to Monkey World for its recent assistance), which has led to creating a "little heaven on earth" for 25 very happy monkeys who have finally returned to the forest, where they belong.