Journal No. 6/7 January 2007

I've got

air-conditioning here

in the forest!

2

Forest Wisdom

Contents

In this edition:

• Editorial p.3• Knowledge of our ancestors p.4• Grégoire Nohon talks about… p.5–9• Hotch-Potch… p.10 and 11 • WCF and its projects p.12,13 and 19• Ella – a family history (3 and end) p.15–19• The tamtam… p.20

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Forest Wisdom

Ponts à franchir pour rejoindre les villages autour de la forêt de Ziamaen Guinée Forestière

Spectateurs assistant au théâtre en Guinée Forestière

A Newsletter for all of you:

• Villagers living near a national park• Everyone who works for the conservation

of forests

Forest wisdom

• Tells the story of special forest inhabitants: chimpanzees

• Shows the problems and threats to the forest• Supplies information• Answers your questions and invites you to

contribute to this newsletter• Invites you to protect the great forest, this

national heritage which is also yours

“Forest Wisdom” is published and distributedby the Wild chimpanzee Foundation (WCF)*with financial support from

*WCF – Europe c/o Max-Planck-Institut fürevolutionäre Anthropologie, Deutscher Platz 6,04103 Leipzig, GermanyWCF – Africa c/o CSRS, 01 BP 1303, Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire

Editorial committee: Hedwige Boesch, Christophe Boesch, Ilka Herbinger, Zoro Bertin Goné Bi, Christine LevantComics, Text: Dao N’Daw KoumbaDrawings: Désiré Koffi, Ben Amara Sylla

The theatre and school activities and the biomoni-toring project are conducted with additional finan-cial support from

rest

Bi,

on-

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Newsletter No.6/7, January 2007 Editorial: The chimpanzees aren't ennemies but friends!

poachers very impressed by what they have justwitnessed. “They use tools and share food just likeus!” Both men are so stunned, that they don't findthe will to fire.“It must be right what they said in this theatre playthat has been performed in the local villages. Andalso this song the children were still singing after thetheatre group had left … it is true!” murmered theold man, who still hadn't recovered.

In the end, the same thoughts concern all of us – inthe town or in the forest, in Ivory Coast or in Europe.Will I become fatally ill from eating chimpanzeemeat? Will the rain stay away if I cut the forestdown? You can read all about these and otherimportant issues in the newsletter “Forest Wisdom.”Remember: All our acts are connected with oneanother. The well-being of all the living beings is atrisk when the balance of nature is disturbed. Theforest is important for the survival of the chimpanzeesand the elephants, but it is just as important for thegrowth of the cocoa tree and for the quality of ourown drinking water. When you fight with your ownmeans for the respect of nature, it is in your hands tosave your rich and intact nature. You share theresponsibility for the future of your region.

See you soon,

Christophe Boesch

No, don't shoot!

Hello and good health to you all!

Some months ago somewhere in the Taï NationalPark…“Two men are silently walking through the forest.The poacher with his gun is walking ahead, followedby his young porter searching the trees for redmonkeys, also called colobus monkeys. They suddenlyhear chimpanzee noises and turn towards them.Peering through some bushes, they find themselvesface to face with a group of chimpanzees in fullaction. “Quick, shoot them!” the young man iswhispering. But the older man hesitates at thesewords: “No, wait! In the village they have always saidthat chimpanzees are like humans. Let's have a lookto see if this is true.”What they then see leaves them gaping in surprise.Just a few meters away, a young chimpanzeeapproaches a bush, breaks off a twig and carries it inhis mouth to a driver anthill. At the anthill he usesthe twig to fish for ants. Next to him, a young femaletakes a hard fruit looking like a bottle gourd and hitsit with all her might against the root of a tree. Whenthe fruit breaks, she carefully peals the seeds and eatsthem. Her little one comes running, giving littlecries. His mum answers by offering him half of thefreshly gathered fruit and they sit side by side eating.Finished, they amble off into the forest with the restof the group, never realizing that the poachers werewatching from behind the bushes. They leave the two

Also read page 12 about the different activities in your region. Hunters, PLEASE, spare the lifeof the chimpanzees!

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KNOWLEDGE OF OUR ANCESTORS

Henri Téré and Hedwige Boesch

This tree is one of the most important plants in thedense and humid West African forest extending fromIvory Coast to Sierra Leone. It is a big tree of 25meters height with a regular trunk that quicklybranches out and a smooth, whitish bark. Its leavesare made up of 5 or 6 smaller, smooth and oppositeleaves, the folioles. These folioles are long, ovalshaped and have an extended point. Its fruit is astrong, 24 to 29 cm long and 7 to 9 cm wide woodyhusk with a delicately pleated surface. It contains 3 to5 big seeds. The seeds of this tree with its manyvirtues are in demand by humans and very muchappreciated by animals (duiker, monkeys, mice, rats,chimpanzees). It grows in Ivory Coast in the valleysof Bas Cavally, mainly between the southernperimeter of the Taï National Park and the Sassandrariver. Its history is unique…

There was a time when men lived in harmony withthe tropical forests. One year, when there was a bigfamine, the villagers decided to send their young

Calpocalyx aubrevillei Pellegr. (Mimosaceae)Local names in Ivory Coast: Guépiézou (in Apollo), Man-touè (in Guéré), Mârou-tou (in Oubi), Moué-tou (in Kroumen)

people into the forest to search for different kinds ofnutritious plants. They discovered a many of the treescalled Calpocalyx aubrevillei and everyone started togather their seeds. The seeds where so numerous thatsome of the young people lifted their head only aftermany hours…. only to realize that they had becomelost forever! After this fatal event, the village eldersforbade all the children to gather the seeds of theCalpocalyx aubrevillei. This prohibition was only liftedyears later by the traditional authorities. Since thisday, the tree has been used in many ways:

Culinary fabrication of indigenous salt (photo p. 11)To obtain salt, one burns green or dry pieces of woodfrom the Calpocalyx aubrevillei. The ashes are put intoa conically formed basket made out of leaves fromswamp plants (e.g. Raphia or Haloplegia). Perforatedleaves are also placed on the bottom to serve as a filterfor the water poured over the ashes. The collectedfiltrate is then boiled until all the liquid is evaporatedin order to get salt crystals which are recommendedto persons with blood pressure problems.

Soap fabricationTo get soap, the ashes of the Calpocalyx aubrevilleiwood are put into a kettle, mixed with water andbrought to a boil. After the mixture has thickened,oil is added to form a paste that can be molded intoballs or bars. But look out, only if one knows theexact dosage of the mixture, does one get the desiredproduct!

Preparation of seeds for consumptionThe seeds are kept in water for 1 or 2 days until theirskin becomes soft and can be removed. Because oftheir very bitter taste, the kernels are then put into akettle and are boiled 3 or 4 times. They can then beeaten like yam roots with oil, chilli pepper or meat.

Domestic use of the woodThe wood is used for the fabrication of traditionalshoes or clogs. It is also used as firewood or charcoal.Smouldering wood pieces keep the fire burning for along time and are used as torches or matches.

Medical useThe decoction of the seeds gives a bitter water that isused for the treatment of diabetes, the treatment ofwounds and the cure of the scabies. Given as a drinkor used for a lukewarm bath, it can also ease malariasymptoms.

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Grégoire Nohon talks about... Patrolling

Hedwige Boesch

How chimpanzees use patrols to test the strength of their neighbours with the idea of conquering their territory:

Hey, come here and

have a beer! I'm going to

tell you something about

patrols … chimpanzee

patrols.

Go ahead!

This may give us some

ideas for our own

patrols.

What are they up

to again?

Hey, guys! How about a little

visit to our neighbours?

Good idea! We'll

follow you!

While he has arest in thevillage, Grégoireinvites the parkagents he knowsto have a beerwith him. Hetells them whatis happening inthe forestbetween twoneighbouringchimpanzeecommunities.Only yesterdaymorning, hefollowed theminto strangeterritory…

I was with Brutus and the males Kendo, Macho, Falstaff, Rousseau, Snoopy and Darwin in the Southeast of theterritory. A bit further away, the females and the young chimps were eating their fill of figs in a tree loaded withfruits.The males don't eat! They just stare at each other…

… then start to move away without calling or drumming.Silently and in single file, they move towards the border oftheir territory… Me too, following them at the end of thefile… They walk quickly, but without dragging their feetthrough the dead leaves. They also avoid wood pieces thatcould crack under their weight. Seized by a feeling of dangerin this atmosphere of secretiveness, I instinctively behave inthe same way.

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Grégoire Nohon talks about… Patrolling

Oh no, where

are we?

Calm down …

and concentrate.Ah! I can

hear cries.

That's them.

I have the feeling

that this is going

to be serious…

We're now more than one kilometerinside the territory of the strangers. I don't recognize the terrain anymoreand have to use my compass to orientmyself. They're sitting all together onthe trunk of a fallen tree. Brutus andKendo are reassuring themselves byholding each other by the shoulder. Theyall look attentive, but still don't makeany sound.Suddenly, one can hear some littlechimpanzee cries coming from not veryfar away… As if on order, my males getup, all with hair standing on end. They're looking into the direction of thecries holding their breath. Three of themare holding each other by the shoulderto calm down. Then, they move silentlytowards the cries.

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Grégoire Nohon talks about… Patrolling

Hmmm, that's

delicious!

It's so peaceful here.

Nobody is disturbing

us.

Hah! Do you

see what

I see?

Help!

An attack!

What are you

waiting for? Run!

Chase them all!

Iiiih, Iiiih,

help me. I'm in

danger…

Hold on! We're coming!

Ow, they're

coming back! Let's be smart

and run away…

You're right, there are

three of them. Quickly,

let's go!

They stop discreetly under a big tree, attentively scrutinizing the canopy vegetation. And in fact, up there arethe “strangers”: a different group of chimpanzees eating their fill of figs with visible pleasure and contentgrunting. We observe them silently for a while, without moving.

After 20 minutes, one of the littleones sitting in the tree gives a cry.This is the signal to attack! Brutus

and the others explode withaggressive cries, get on their hind

legs and drum their chests, allhairs standing on end. They look

frightening. Macho chargeshalfway up the tree. The strangersare completely surprised. Quite a

few of them rush down to theground and, chased by the others,

flee in a panic.

Rousseau and Darwin have stayed under the tree,because a mother with her child didn't dare to fleeand is now screeching in alarm and for help.

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We are the strongest!

They ran away.

Next time we'll get

them…and then for

good!

Thanks guys!

That was a bit

too hot for me.

We surely wouldn't have left

you and your child with these

invaders.

She's not left behind. Three of the foreignmales come back to help her and wildlyattack Darwin and Rousseau, who don'tpush the issue. The female with its child isrushing down and disappears, saved thistime… It's perfectly silent. The crucialmoment of the attack lasted barely morethan 5 minutes!

But now Brutus and the otherscelebrate their advantage over

their neighbours with a 10-minutes of drumming and

victorious hoo hoo shouting.Then they quietly go home.

Grégoire Nohon talks about... Patrolling

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Thank you

for everything.

Have a good patrol…

and keep your spirits

up!

“This time…”, Grégoire says, “the encounter passed without causing harm. But sometimes they leave seriousinjuries. It makes one think about the similarity between humans and chimpanzees. See you soon!” The parkagents resume their patrol. After what they just heard, they have plenty to think about and discuss.

Information on the purpose of the patrols

• The male chimpanzees of a community defend a territoryof normally 10 to 20 km2

Every month they go on patrols to:• make sure that no stranger has entered their territory• control the food resources of the territory• see and get to know the females of neighbouring

communities, who switch communities just before theybecome adults

• preventively attack their male neighbours, who also go on patrols for the same reasons

• regularly take neighbouring females hostage for severalhours and sometimes even for several days

Grégoire Nohon talks about... Patrolling

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Hotch-Potch…

The rules for this sudoku are very simple and consist of just one sentence: Fill the empty fields with the symbols in a way that they turn up only onceper line, per column and per square (as for example in the orange square).

Clues:

1. They are the closest cousins of the humans.2. National Park in Abidjan, soon hosting an exposition about the environment.3. National Park in the West of Ivory Coast, where the heroes of this journal live.4. The chimpanzees use them for instance to get to their food (sticks, rocks…).5. Forest zone occupied by a chimpanzee group who also defends it against the intrusion of other chimpanzees.6. Researchers count them to estimate the number of chimpanzees in a region.A. Track left on the ground by the passage of an animal. B. Every chimpanzee makes one in the evening in the trees to sleep in.

Put the following words into the grill by placing the letters in the right order:

IHMNAPECZSESTNECFEESOLOSTATIEORIRTTYRPFRIOTOTNOANBC

A

6 F E C E S

2 B A N C O

O B

T N

1 C H I M P A N Z E E S

R S

3 T A I 5 T E R R I T O R Y

N

4 T O O L S

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Have you found all the words? Well done! Now find the answer tothe following question by assembling the letters you haven't used:Now that you have read this newsletter – what do you think thechimpanzees hope for from us? – – – – – – – – – –T

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Lucie Bah of the village Kati prepares theindigenous salt from Calpocalyx ashes (see page 4).

There are 7 differences between the 2 drawings. It's up to you to find them!

Find the following words in the grill and cross them out:

BANCOCARNIVORESCHIMPANZEECOMOEWATERELEPHANTESSPTFIREFORESTHUMAN

LIONAPELEOPARDPARKSAVANNAHSOILTAISELLIFEWCF

Watch out! The words can be written vertically,horizontally, backwards or even diagonally.

C A R N I V O R E SH O C N A B R L P AI L O W A T E R T VM I E S S P T L F AP O C O H K L I O NA S I A P R F F R NN O N P N A I E E AZ T L E S P R A S HE H U M A N E D T TE W C F C O M O E E

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We left it to independent andneutral researchers to ask you thisimportant question. That's whysome of you were contacted bysociologists of the Universities ofAbidjan, Freetown or Conakrybefore and after the theatre grouphad passed. Their work hasconfirmed, that the majority of thepeople who watched the play is nowconvinced that the chimpanzeesreally have to be protected. On theother hand and just as important,we found out that from now on thechimpanzee will be a totem formany of you and sometimes evenfor whole villages. Also, some of thepoachers and planters seems to havebecome aware of these problemsand respect the life of chimpanzeeswhen they meet them in the forestor in their fields.

WCF and its projects…

Is it worth continuingour environmentaleducation activities?

These reactions encourage us tocontinue our projects! This proves in fact that the filmsand the theatre helped to makethe life of the chimpanzees

known, because very few peoplehave the privilege to personallyobserve these animals in theirforest.

WCF and its projectsin your region

The team of sociologists led by T. Winnebah of the University of Njalla in Freetown (Sierra Leone) at work around the Gola Forest

Ilka Herbinger

Imagine: for 3 years now, more than 90.000 people have watched the theatre play “The chimpanzees are our cousins” in several hundred villages around Taï, Banco and Marahoué National Parksin Ivory Coast as well as in the FoutaDjallon, in Guinée Forestière andaround the Gola Forest in SierraLeone. Young people from theseregions even created six new theatregroups to continue talking about theconservation of the nature aroundtheir home villages.

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Christophe Boesch

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In April 2006, Zoro Gone Bi Bertinand Yasmin Moebius from the WCF,accompanied by Bami Fampé fromGuinée Ecologie, arrived in GuinéeForestiere with the members of thetheatre company “Taïbou” and itsdirector Magassouba Aicha Deen.The play “SOS Chimpanzees”, whichthe group had performed in 2005 inthe Fouta Djallon, was adapted for thesituation in Guinée Forestière and verysuccessfully performed. Almost 7000people participated in theperformances in 15 villages near theclassified forests of Diéké, Bossou andZiama as well as in the Mount NimbaReserve. The discussions were verylively and made two things clear: onone hand, the chimpanzees in Guineaare protected by law, on the otherhand, deforestation is a crisis forhumans as well as for chimpanzees. The films and newsletter were also

This special day, 21 November 2006, wasorganized by Mr. Hilaire Guilahoux, the UnitCoordinator for the environmental and schoolexchange projects, and the Director of WCF inAfrica, Ilka Herbinger. In the presence of theauthorities of the Taï National Park and fromSoubré, all the objects made by German pupils fortheir schoolmates in Ivory Coast were officiallyhanded over. Started in 2005, this project linkinga German school with schools in Ivory Coast (see n° 4, page 12), was continued in 2006. Theexchange of ideas, documentation and artisanalobjects between the African and European pupilsis symbolic of the need for understanding andtolerance between the nations. A big THANK YOU to all the participants forthis good example!

WCF and its projects…

The theatre company “Taïbou” performs “SOS Chimpanzees” in Guinée Forestière

A special day in the life of 120 pupilsof Soubré, Petit Tiémé and Wonséalyin Ivory Coast

very much appreciated. People, open tolearn about the life and the behaviour ofthe chimpanzees in their forest, expressedthe wish that we return regularly to theirregion.THANK YOU all for this support!

The company Taïbou and its

audience in GuinéeForestière.

Activities, including the visit of an Ivorian hospital and the presentation oftraditional clothes, during the school exchange day in Soubré.

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Ilka Herbinger

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I've told you a hundred times not to scratch yourself with both hands at the same time!

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Ella – a family history (3 and end)The leopard attack

Hedwige Boesch

January 1990: Ella has succeeded! Her son Kendo is the boss. Fitz, his second, is steadily at his side. Gérald, the youngster, often joins them and the three of them make a real clan together with Ella, the matriarch, and her allied friends Fanny, Ricci, Gala as well as their children.

Mum, mum!

A leopard!!!

Ella is on a walk alone with Gérald and her youngest baby, when suddenly a leopard leaps towardsGérald. Without hesitating, Ella hands the baby to Gérald and launches herself at the leopard,screaming with terror as they tumble in deadly combat. While Ella grapples with the leopard, Gérald and the baby retreat to the safety of a tree.

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Ella – THE LEOPARD ATTACK

You're not

getting away with

this, you cruel cat.

Oh,

poor Ella!

She must be really

hurt.

It hurts, it hurts,

oh no….

Don't

worry, mum! You'll

survive!

What

can we do? She is

really suffering.

All thechimpanzeesnearby giveviolent cries.Ondine, Salomé,Kiri and Gomacome runningwith howling.Kendo, Fitz,Brutus and theothers run at thedouble after theleopard who fleesas fast as he canbecause,wounded, hecouldn't huntanymore.

Ella, bleeding heavily and very weak, takes shelter in a tree with her two littles ones, who are still inshock but – thanks to mum – alive.

Kendo and Fitz rejoin their mother. They wipe herwounds, lick off the blood and clean her injuries.

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Ella – THE LEOPARD ATTACK

Don't give up!

You've always been

brave.We're really

in danger. When the humans

don't attack us, the leopards

do.

Hey you,

go away! There's nothing

to see here.

But we just want

to see Ella!

What did I tell

you? She's already

trying to walk.

It's incredible!

She's going to survive!

She's really strong.

Kendo keeps watchto see that hismother is notjostled by the

others taking careof her. He chases

away someyoungsters.After 3 hours Ella tries to

walk again… Carefully,she moves forward, butwithout using her leftarm. Despite her sufferingshe carries her baby, whogives little moans to geton her back. The wholegroup follows her.

Ella climbs down to the ground where she issurrounded by about 15 chimpanzees who lick hernumerous wounds: on her chest, in her face, on herneck, her arms, her hands, her feet and on her back.They delicately clean away the dirt making littlehou-hous… The males keep guard and scrutinizethe undergrowth.

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Oh,

that's hard!

I'm so tired!

Take

another rest.

We'll stay here

with you.

Ella – THE LEOPARD ATTACK

Because she is too tired, she stops. The group waits for her, tending her wounds again and keeping watch overher all day long.

Ella will survive her injuries. The history of thisfamily continues for many more years. Kendo staysthe boss for 2 years. After that, clever as he is, hecedes power almost without a fight to his brother Fitzwho has now more “punch”. Like this, the powerstays in the family! Unfortunately and despite hisenergy, Fitz doesn't survive long. He is taken by anillness, and then it's Macho, old and experienced, but still in form, who has his “come-back” and takescommand of the group again.

Information:

It's very rare in animals that wounded are cared.The behaviour of the Taï chimpanzees is absolutelyremarkable. • The care consists mainly of cleaning the injuries

and licking running blood.• If an individual has died as a result of its

injuries, the chimpanzee don't clean them, butkeep guard over the corpse, as we saw in thecase of Tina who was killed by a leopard (see n° 3, pages 9–11). This marks thebeginning of the comprehension of death.

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The WCF, in collaboration with theOIPR, has undertaken to renovate the“Maison de la Nature” (“House ofNature”) and many internationalresearchers helped to realize a firstexhibition.Among the attractions are 17 posters ondifferent subjects, such as elephants,primates, bats, reptiles, birds, theNational Parks of Ivory Coast, bush meatand its dangers etc. On a TV screeninterested people can also watch greatfilms about the nature and discoveranimal sounds. There is also a “naturepath” in the park, where visitors canidentify with the researchers and dedicatethemselves to exciting observations. Onecan even crack nuts and fish ants just likethe chimpanzees! Several guides are atdisposal for the curious to help, informand monitor during the tour and theactivities. Come one and all to Banco andbring your friends!

The “House of Nature” in theBanco National Park

THE WCF AND ITS PROJECTS…

The Nature Centre inthe Banco NationalParc in Abidjan withits posters andinteractive workshops.

Ilka Herbinger

Office Ivorien des Parcs etRéserves,

Management of the protectedareas in Ivory Coast

Photos: Ilka Herbinger

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The tamtam …

On

goin

g …

– First visitors in the “Maison de laNature”

– News from the research project inthe Taï National Park in IvoryCoast

– What's going on in the Cavallyand Goin-Débé classified forests?

– What about the projects carriedout by the villagers?

– and, luckily, more theatre!

The WCF, with approval of the OIPR, employs guides who havealready gained first results: Their faunal survey shows that thereis a group of more than 10 chimpanzees surviving in this smallnational park in the middle of the biggest city in Ivory Coast!This is a near-miracle and we want to do everything we can toensure that this continues to be a reality. Nevertheless, there aremany attacks against the park, both against the plants and thesurviving animals. The Banco National Park is a precious jewelat the disposal of all the city dwellers who love nature. Andthere's a special attraction awaiting them: the House of Nature!

Bio-monitoring in the Banco National Park near Abidjan, Ivory Coast (see also n° 5, page 8)

Hedwige Boesch, the Directorof WCF Europe has won thesecond prize of the company“Yves Rocher” in Switzerlandfor her commitment for theconservation of thechimpanzees in their naturalenvironment, the tropical

forest. The prize money, the sum of CHF 5.000 (more than 2 million CFA), she donated to the projects of WCF.

Main entrance of the Banco National Park in Abidjan,Ivory Coast.

Chimpanzee night nests inthe Banco National Park

On the occasion of its 150th anniversary, the “ZürcherTierschutz” (Zurich animal protection society) organized abanquet in support of WCF. The remarkable result: 30.000CHF (more than 12 million CFA) were provided for ourprojects: this in addition to the support already delivered bythis organisation over the past 4 years.A huge THANK YOU to our Swiss friends!