Partnerships

Department of Commercial Crops Fruits & Forestry

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The Macaulay Institute

Conservation of Ader’s duiker in Zanzibar

The goal of this Darwin Initiative project is to ensure the long-term survival of a critically endangered small antelope in Zanzibar, believed to be the last viable world population.

In 1999 the population of Ader’s duiker (Cephalophus adersi), in Zanzibar was estimated to be only around 600 animals. Originally, this species ranged along the East African coast from from Tanzania to Somalia , but it is now restricted to Unguja island (Zanzibar) and some relict forests in Kenya (although the latter have had few recent substantiated sightings). The population status of Ader’s Duiker is now critical, given that numbers were estimated to have declined by some 88% from 5000 in 1982 .

It is probable that hunting is still a threat to the Ader’s duiker population. Although hunting is being controlled through community management schemes (implemented by the Department of Commercial Crops, Fruits and Forestry (DCCFF)), it is often difficult to implement these schemes efficiently due to cultural sensitivities along with the pressures associated with high levels of poverty, population growth and the demand for natural resources

To ensure the long-term survival of Ader’s duiker a conservation programme is urgently required that includes community initiatives and the involvement of local researchers .

Activities

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 Survey of populations in the Zanzibar archipelago to obtain a reliable estimate of population numbers and fragmentation.
• Survey of relict populations on the proximities of the Tanzanian mainland.
• Promote conservation of the duikers’ habitat on Zanzibar and the mainland.
• Conduct research on the duiker’s feeding ecology and social behaviour – the information provided is essential for the development of effective conservation and breeding programmes.
Outputs:
• A non-intrusive monitoring programme for Ader’s duiker on the Zanzibar archipelago, as conventional drive-net methods produce high accidental mortality rates in this delicate species
• Population estimates for any remaining isolates on the Tanzanian coast, and a plan to link isolate populations.
• A community management programme that integrates existing community based initiatives with knowledge of individual animal home ranges, foraging ecology and social behaviour. Involvement of local students from the community in capacity building and research to ensure the long-term sustainability of the initiative .

A Darwin funded pre-project visit was made to Zanzibar in December 2005 which was hosted by Dr. Bakari Asseid, Director of the Department of Commercial Crops, Fruits and Forestry (DCCFF).

A base was established at the Jozani Forest Reserve Station from which field visits were made with local partners to protected areas and community forest reserves. This allowed first hand monitoring experience of Ader’s duiker in remaining natural habitat and the collection of data on food plants and relative abundance. Dung samples were also collected to investigate the potential of using DNA for individual identification and a satellite collar was tested under forest canopy to establish the feasibility satellite tracking. All field locations were GPS fixed for future project work.

Informal meetings were held with village chiefs, forest rangers and local hunters to explain the project and gauge the potential for community conservation and participatory monitoring. In addition, consultations were held with the government staff of DCCF, managers and personnel of partner NGOs in Zanzibar, CARE International and Jozani Environment Conservation Association (JECA), as well as the Hunter’s Association of Zanzibar. At the end of the trip feedback was encouraged after a summary project presentation was made to DCCF, JECA, chiefs and community leaders from villages with remaining forest reserves.

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