Dodo Hills Forest Reserve
West Africa > Sierra Leone > Dodo Hills Forest Reserve
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Summary
- Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in Dodo Hills Forest Reserve.
- The population size is unknown.
- The chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
- The site has a total size of 317 km².
- Key threats to chimpanzees are deforestation and expansion of agriculture.
- Forest patrols, community engagement, legal frameworks, and educational programs are the main conservation interventions that have been implemented at the site.
Site characteristics
Dodo Hills Forest Reserve is located in the north-western part of the Kenema District in the Dodo Chiefdom. It is a dense tropical rain forest with a rich diversity of fauna and flora species, including pangolins, primates, butterflies, duikers, birds, woody trees, etc.
Table 1. Basic site information for Dodo Hills Forest Reserve
| Species | Pan troglodytes verus |
| Area | 21.8 km² |
| Coordinates | Lat: 8.267 , Lon: -11.06798 |
| Type of site | Protected area (Forest Reserve) |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical dry forest |
| Type of governance | Governance by government |
Types of sites Governance types Habitat types
Ape status
Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Dodo Hills Forest Reserve
| Species | Year | Occurrence | Encounter or vistation rate (nests/km; ind/day) | Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) | Abundance estimate (95% CI) | Survey area | Sampling method | Analytical framework | Source | Comments | A.P.E.S. database ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pan troglodytes verus | Dodo Hills Forest Reserve |
Sampling methods Analytical frameworks
Threats
Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Dodo Hills Forest Reserve
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | High (more than 70% of population affected) | Presence of abandoned farm lands, farm bushes, cacao farms, hamlets and farm roads traversing the forest (Turay & Kanneh 2022). | Ongoing (2022) |
| 4 Transportation & service corridors | 4.1 Roads & railroads | Low (up to 30% of population affected) | Logging roads caused by forestry in the past (Turay & Kanneh 2022). | Ongoing (2022) |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | High (more than 70% of population affected) | Local communities harvest wood in protected areas for firewood and charcoal due to poverty and limited livelihood options (Lahai Keifala pers. comm. 2025). | Ongoing (2025) |
| 7 Natural system modifications | 7.2 Dams & water management/use | Low (up to 30% of population affected) | The presence of the main hydroelectricity dam supplying electricity to Kenema and Bo on the river poses low level threat to the habitat (Turay & Kanneh 2022). | Ongoing (2022) |
Conservation activities
Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Dodo Hills Forest Reserve
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Implementing organization(s) | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Counter-wildlife crime | 2.3 Conduct regular anti-poaching patrols | The National Protected Area Authority conducts regular patrols to monitor and protect the forest (Lahai Keifala pers. comm. 2025). | National Protected Area Authority | Ongoing (2024) |
Challenges
Enablers
Research activities
Documented behaviours
Table 7. Behaviours documented for Dodo Hills Forest Reserve
| Category | Behavior | Observation type | Prevalence | Observation dates | Source | Habituation | Species | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not reported |
Exposure to climate change impacts
External links
References
Page created by: Ansumana Babar Turay Date: 2022-12-18
Page updated by: Lahai Keifala Date: 2025-04-23