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The Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest (YSF) and Mai-Mokombo Forest (MMF) are in the South East of Moyamba District, Sierra Leone. The sites are located on the shores of the Bagru creek and the Sherbro river. The area includes five small settlements: Mobondah, Yelleh, Sorbengi, Mai, and Mokombo. The two forest blocks are separated by an area of land confirmed through research as a corridor for the movement of chimpanzees and other wildlife known to exist in the area. The corridor area and the core area of the two forests comprise a matrix of vegetation types and features. Vegetation types in the area include: mangroves, primary and secondary growth forest, swamps, grassy savannah, wild oil palm and agricultural lands. The two forests cover approximately 3 sq.km and the swamp/mangrove ecosystems approximately 50 sq.km. The mangroves are part of the Marine Protected Area Shebro River Estuary. The mangroves are categorised among one of the Marine Protected Areas - Shebro River Estuary in Sierra Leone.  

The Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest (YSF) and Mai-Mokombo Forest (MMF) are in the South East of Moyamba District, Sierra Leone. The sites are located on the shores of the Bagru creek and the Sherbro river. The area includes five small settlements: Mobondah, Yelleh, Sorbengi, Mai, and Mokombo. The two forest blocks are separated by an area of land confirmed through research as a corridor for the movement of chimpanzees and other wildlife known to exist in the area. The corridor area and the core area of the two forests comprise a matrix of vegetation types and features. Vegetation types in the area include: mangroves, primary and secondary growth forest, swamps, grassy savannah, wild oil palm and agricultural lands. The two forests cover approximately 3 sq.km and the swamp/mangrove ecosystems approximately 50 sq.km. The mangroves are part of the Marine Protected Area Shebro River Estuary. The mangroves are categorised among one of the Marine Protected Areas - Shebro River Estuary in Sierra Leone.  

[[File: Swamp on the edge of Yelleh forest.jpg | 300px | thumb| right |Swamp on the edge of Yelleh forest © TCP]]

[[File: Swamp on the edge of Yelleh forest.JPG | 300px | thumb| right |Swamp on the edge of Yelleh forest © TCP]]

'''Table 1. Basic site information for Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest and Mai-Mokombo Forest'''

'''Table 1. Basic site information for Yelleh-Sorbengi Forest and Mai-Mokombo Forest'''

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= Ape status = <!--An overview of ape population status (population sizes, trends, etc.), followed by a table of specific surveys and results -->

= Ape status = <!--An overview of ape population status (population sizes, trends, etc.), followed by a table of specific surveys and results -->

[[File: Mobonda Community_forest_chimps.jpg | 300px | thumb| right | © TCP]]

[[File: Mobonda Community_forest_chimps.JPG | 300px | thumb| right | © TCP]]

Conservation activities involving the use of camera traps and reconnaissance walks have revealed and confirmed evidence of the presence of chimpanzee thriving at the sites through direct capture on camera traps in three successive years: 2016, 2018 and 2019, and indirect signs (nests, trail, feeding remain on fruits and oil palm tops) encountered during the camera trap survey periods (Garriga & Kanneh 2022). Density and abundance estimates were not provided for all three studies. Reported so far are: capture locations of chimpanzees on camera traps and the identification of chimpanzee individuals based on facial and body features as well as individual characteristics such as injuries, and estimated their number, gender. On one event of camera capture of the species, the maximum numbers reported of different individuals were 8 individuals (2016), 5 individuals (2018) and 4 individuals (2019) (Garriga & Kanneh 2022).

Conservation activities involving the use of camera traps and reconnaissance walks have revealed and confirmed evidence of the presence of chimpanzee thriving at the sites through direct capture on camera traps in three successive years: 2016, 2018 and 2019, and indirect signs (nests, trail, feeding remain on fruits and oil palm tops) encountered during the camera trap survey periods (Garriga & Kanneh 2022). Density and abundance estimates were not provided for all three studies. Reported so far are: capture locations of chimpanzees on camera traps and the identification of chimpanzee individuals based on facial and body features as well as individual characteristics such as injuries, and estimated their number, gender. On one event of camera capture of the species, the maximum numbers reported of different individuals were 8 individuals (2016), 5 individuals (2018) and 4 individuals (2019) (Garriga & Kanneh 2022).