Created by J.K. Irons
1949
Description:

'THE GAMBIA PRIMATE PROJECT

I. Object:

The identification of the species of monkey indigenous to the Gambia with an estimation of the relative abundance of species and a study of behaviour and habits in as much as they affect the capture and care in captivity of specimens. To obtain monkeys and to arrange for supplies of animals in the future. The construction of a depot and of crates for sea journeys, together with the training of Africans in field work and animal care. The establishment of simple dietic systems and of medical treatments for minor wounds and common ailments. The dispatch of specimens by sea to the United Kingdom.

II. Methods:

1. Acknowledgements.

I am greatly indebted to those members of the Medical Research Council who gave me assistance and advice in England and to the Director and Staff of the Field Research Station at Fajara, especially to Dr. J. Waterlow for his invaluable assistance in establishing medical techniques and conducting post mortems. Also to the Zoological Society of London for help before and during the expedition.

Finally to the Government officials in the Gambia and to the representative of Elder Dempster Lines in Bathurst.

2. Duration and extent of survey.

I arrived in the Gambia on the 1st of July 1949...

I left the Gambia on the 28th of September.

3. Primate fauna.

The following species are present in sufficiently great numbers to permit large scale catching.

Cercopithecus aethiops sabacus.

Erythrocoebus patas.

Colobus badius terminiki. [sic]

Papio anubis.

Other species are present and there are reliable reports of the presence of Chimpanzee further up-river.

The baboons (Papio) are the most common...

4. Trapping.

With regard to the collection of specimens it was decided that for the short period in which a European would be solely concerned with this work it was impossible either to introduce new trapping systems for general use among the native population or to train special full time trapping crews and prove their economic value. There would also be considerable opposition form the Africans if new methods were introduced. A study was therefore made of established methods and where necessary modifications were suggested. These methods are in most cases extremely primitive but do usually ensure that uninjured specimens are caught.

Local methods consist of pursuit on foot in nearly all cases. SOme Africans from other regions have evolved methods entailing roping round the body when a bait is taken and some use foot wires and nooses placed in trees to obtain animals for food.

Baboons are followed and their necks pinned to the ground by means of forked sticks. They are then tied to poles and carried to the villages.

Red monkeys are caught in a similar way but the use of sticks is not necessary.

Green monkeys are isolated in single trees and made to fall by shouting and throwing missiles into the tree.

Considerable difficulty is always experienced in catching the Colobus monkeys and the majority of the specimens brought in were immature forms being carried by the mother who had been shot.

5. Accommodation.

A site for the depot was taken over at Fajara [in 1947. See Green, Andrew (2018). A new paradigm for the MRC Units in The Gambia and Uganda. The Lancet, 391(10119), 418.]. The area included a concrete raft 140ft. long and 20 ft. wide, with the shell of a brick house in the centre. Another house made of brick and with a metal roof stood at one end of the raft, a few feet away from it. African labour was engaged and the building of the depot was started. One part of the raft, measuring 70 x 20 ft. was fenced in with wire to a height of ten feet as a protection against animals. For mature animals which require to be housed single 'igloo' like structures of re-inforced concrete were made, eighteen to house specimens of the smaller species and six to house baboons. (Photographs A and B) Rings were sunk in the concrete and the animals can be tethered with soft body belts and chain. Igloos in use are provided with duck boards.

Half of the house shell in the centre of the raft was built up and roofed. It has a false ceiling of wire. Very little wire of small mesh was available and it was all used for sea cages. Large mesh wire was laced with old telephone cable for use with the smaller specimens. Sleeping accommodation inside the house was provided consisting of a tree trunk sunk in the concrete and shelves attached to the walls. The window is provided with a weather proof shutter. From this house a wired-in entrance leads to a compound of 3500 cubic feet. ... (Photograph C)

Three of the large igloos have been provided with wire pens, (Photograph D) and an experimental breeding section for baboons has been set up with a stud male (Photograph E) and the two adult females. (Photograph F)

Inside the house standing away from the raft two wired-in pens have been made... Two others store bedding and sawdust while another has nine cages of approximately nine cubic feet each, built in tiers of three. ... The house is weather proof, the windows being provided with bad weather shutters. There is ample light and air for these quarters to be used as semi-permanent accommodation. Sea cages of two sizes have been made. One of twenty cubic feet ... The other type of sea cage is of ten cubic feet with a wire door.

...

7. Trained Africans.

The Africans in the areas selected for catching have been instructed in the care of animals. A carpenter who showed considerable interest in the animals and an aptitude for handling and treating specimens has been trained so that he is in a position to carry out a simple diet system for the commoner species, to dress wounds and maintain treatment. He has been taught the elements of hygiene and understands the need for cleanliness and adequate supplies of food and water.

Another African has become well versed in Field Liason work. He has the advantage of speaking most of the languages, of being literate and of previous experience.

8. Treatment.

Injuries occurred as a result of African treatment of the animals between capture and collection, fighting while in captivity, as a result of transportation and from attempts to escape. The commonest ailments were pneumonia and malaria(?). Exposure in the field led to several deaths among young stock.

Mortality rates were high at the outset of the work and although this rate was considerably reduced, there will probably be a normal rate of at least 10% excluding shipping casualties...

...

III Results:

...

3. Animals caught.

Species.       No. caught.  % Mortality. Causes of Death.

Patas.          9                33.3%                  Pneumonia.

Baboon.       48               50%            African treatment.

Green.                  18               27%            Varied.

Colobus.      8                85%            Malaria in immature specimens.

These figures by no means give a true picture of mortality rates, and include injured specimens. The rate in the latter part of the time as a result of injuries was below 6% and this should be maintained at this figure. Malaria is probably at its height in this season among animals as well as man. Pneumonia can be avoided by the use of additional bedding.

(In addition 12 were caught but were not bought owing to injury.)...

...

2. Casualties.

The first batch of animals captured were tethered with ropes round the waist for several days while in the hands of the natives and this treatment resulted in severe wounds and a considerable number of deaths. After this wire cages were made and left in the villages concerned in active catching. These were replaced when the specimens were collected. It was also found that placing large and small specimens of even the large species together led to fatalities and provision was made for this also.

Some batches suffered considerably from lack of food and water after capture and it is considered essential that there should be a sharp distinction between the price paid for a monkey and the money to be paid for its care after capture before collection. One penny per day per specimen will ensure that food and water are provided.

A certain number of injuries occur from the bites of dogs used in hunting and from primitive traps. Blows on the head are held to be responsible for some deaths.

Illnesses accounted for some deaths. Several post mortem results point to malarial infection and pneumonia is not uncommon especially among Patas monkeys.

A great many of these illnesses and injuries can be avoided once experience has been gained.

...

3. Handling.

The work of educating the Africans in the handling of specimens and their care should be carried on. Practically the total mortality rate among baboons is a result of inexperienced handling and care. Natives selected for field liaison should not only know themselves how to care for stock but must be in a position to impress this upon others. This point cannot be over emphasized.

...

7. Present state of the project.

...

Shipping arrangements have been made with Elder Dempster Lines and full instructions about permits and Bills of Lading have been left at Fojara together with other papers concerned with care of animals. From the number of monkeys in the country, the facilities available for housing and the willingness of the local population to assist, there is clearly a useful source in the Gambia of experimental monkeys and development of the scheme is recommended.

...

IV Recommendations:

4. New trapping methods.

New methods of trapping could be evolved as the work is carried on. Trained trapping crews could be trained using adapted European methods. Use could be made of drugged baits in the dry season when the animals congregate at water holes and when food is in short supply. The use of palm wine and native snuff should be investigated.

5. Field research.

There is a great scope for systematic ecological work on the West African Primate fauna... During the visit to Dakar, where the Pasteur Institute and the Institute Francais d'Afrique Noire [sic] were visited and valuable information obtained about the identification of species and the care of monkeys in captivity. Attention was drawn to the presence of Papio doguere [sic] in the Gambia, a fact not known to the French...

Studies of purely scientific interest could probably be carried out over a period of time in conjunction with the work of catching. Many field observations were made during the expedition.'

6. Seasonal factors.

...

[see images with captions as follows:

A. Compound containing igloos for housing mature stock.

B. The igloo principle demonstrated.

C. Two large compounds and houses for immature stock.

D. Wired in igloo for breeding.

E. The stud male baboon.

F. The two systems compared. A female baboon placed with a stud male.

G. The two types of cage for sea journeys. House in the background is the one with indoor pens. The specimen held is the one destined for the London Zoo.]