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Created page with "<!-- INSTRUCTIONS FOR UPLOADING SITE INFORMATION - Wiki pages contain information in paragraphs, tables, lists, and images. - Text and images are not restricted, and their for..."
<!-- INSTRUCTIONS FOR UPLOADING SITE INFORMATION
- Wiki pages contain information in paragraphs, tables, lists, and images.
- Text and images are not restricted, and their formats can be chosen as desired.
- Tables and lists are extracted as data, so the following restrictions apply to them:
1) Table structure cannot be changed.
2) List format should not change, i.e. they are comma separated lists, not bullet points or numbered lists.
3) To make information comparable across wiki pages, keywords must be taken from the list of permitted words, or added to the list of permitted keywords. This is why we use official lists, e.g., IUCN classification lists, in our tables.
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[[West Africa]] > [[Sierra Leone]] > [[Lake Sonfon]]
= Summary = <!-- An overview of the site, with one sentence for each section. May include a site map -->
<div style="float: right">
{{#display_map: height=200px | width=300px | scrollzoom=off | zoom=5 | layers= OpenStreetMap, OpenTopoMap
|9.249629, -11.499968~[[Lake Sonfon]]~Western Chimpanzee
}}
</div>
* Western chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes verus'') may be present in Lake Sonfon.
* The population size is unknown.
* The chimpanzee population trend is decreasing.
* The site has a total size of 8 km².
* Key threats to chimpanzees are mining, hunting, and habitat loss due to agriculture.
* Conservation activities carried out by CSSL have focused on awareness raising and supporting livelihood alternatives.
= Site characteristics = <!-- A paragraph summary of physical and geographic aspects of the site, and a table of key information -->
Lake Sonfon is located in the mountainous northeastern part of Sierra Leone, at an altitude of 549 m above sea level. The vegetation around the lake comprises open grassland, wooded savanna, forest, and farmbush. Seven small streams flow into the lake, which provide a water source for local communities. The lake is also important to local people in terms of traditional beliefs and ceremonies (Sesay et al. 2017, BirdLife International 2023, [https://www.globalnature.org/en/living-lakes/africa/sonfon-lake GNF]). The site is an Important Bird Area (BirdLife International 2023). Western chimpanzees may be present around the lake; other large mammals in the Lake Sonfon environs include warthog, bay duiker, Maxwell’s duiker, bushbuck, buffalo, red river hog, and various monkeys (Brncic et al. 2010).
'''Table 1. Basic site information for Lake Sonfon'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="basic-information"
| Area <!-- Please include units: km2/ha e.g 200ha -->
|8 km²
|-
|Coordinates
|9.249629, -11.499968
|-
|Designation
|
|-
|Habitat types <!-- List IUCN Habitat Classification 3.0 categories present (without number), see link below -->
|Savanna, subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest
|}
[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/habitat-classification-scheme IUCN habitat categories] [[Site designations]]
= Ape status = <!--An overview of ape population status (population sizes, trends, etc.), followed by a table of specific surveys and results -->
Interviews were conducted around Lake Sonfon in 2009, which concluded that it does not contain a substantial chimpanzee population. The surrounding forest and woodland savanna may have several groups of chimpanzees (Brncic et al. 2010). Two of these groups were identified during the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Project Baseline Biodiversity Survey; the southernmost group was based near Worowaya ranging to the Seli River, comprising 8-16 individuals. A second group was located northeast of the Sel- Mawoloho confluence, comprising 6-9 individuals (Brncic et al. 2010). During a camera trap survey in 2016 chimpanzees were encountered at the site, though not on the camera traps (Sesay et al. 2016).
'''Table 2. Ape population estimates in Lake Sonfon'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="population-estimate-table"
! Species
! Year
! Abundance estimate (95% CI)
! Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI)
! Encounter rate (nests/km)
! Area
! Method
! Source
! Comments
! A.P.E.S. database ID
|-
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
|2009
|
|
|Present
|Lake Sonfon Forest Reserve
|Interview survey
|Brncic et al. 2010
|
|
|-
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
|2016
|
|
|Present
|Lake Sonfon Forest Reserve
|Camera trap
|Sesay et al. 2017
|Chimpanzees were observed, but not on the camera traps
|
|}
= Threats = <!-- a text overview of threats, followed by a table of key threats -->
During a 2009 survey, people from nearby villages identified mining, hunting, and farming activities as causing a decline in the chimpanzee population since the war (Brncic et al. 2010). The lake itself and the immediate environs are threatened primarily by artisanal gold mining. A significant amount of mining activity was seen at the lake and its surroundings, which is likely to reduce water quality, increase wildlife exploitation and increase forest clearance (Brncic et al. 2010).
'''Table 3. Threats to apes in Lake Sonfon'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="threats-table"
!align="left"|Category <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE THREAT CATEGORIES -->
!Specific threats <!-- For specific threats, please use list of comma separated keywords from the IUCN list linked below -->
!Threat level <!-- For threat level, please use keywords: low, medium, high, present, absent, unknown-->
!Quantified severity <!-- Enter any available quantification of the threat, e.g., the proportion of the area affected by the threat, hunting sign encounter rates-->
!Description <!-- Add descriptive information -->
!Year of threat <!-- Enter specific year(s), “ongoing”, or “unknown”. If the threat is ongoing, please add the year of reference in parentheses -->
|-
|1. Residential & commercial development
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
|2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops
|Low
|
|Habitat degradation due to farming activities (Brncic et al. 2010, Sesay et al. 2017).
|2010-Ongoing (2017)
|-
|3. Energy production & mining
|3.2 Mining & quarrying
|High
|
|Artisanal gold mining is the largest threat (Brncic et al. 2010, Sesay et al. 2017)
|2010-Ongoing (2017)
|-
|4. Transportation & service corridors
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|5. Biological resource use
|5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals
|High
|
|Hunting was reported as a main threat during a 2009 interview survey in the area (Brncic et al. 2010).
|Ongoing (2010)
|-
|
|5.3 Logging & wood harvesting
|High
|
|Logging and subsequent agricultural activities have degraded the forest (Brncic et al. 2010); charcoal extraction (Sesay et al. 2017).
|2010-Ongoing (2017)
|-
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
|6.2 War, civil unrest & military exercises
|Present, but severity unknown
|
|A decline in chimpanzee population was noticeable to local communities since the war (Brncic et al. 2010).
|1991-2002
|-
|7. Natural system modifications
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|9. Pollution
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|10. Geological Events
|
|Absent
|
|
|
|-
| 11. Climate change & severe weather
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|12. Other options
|
|Absent
|
|
|
|-
|}
[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/threat-classification-scheme IUCN Threats list]
= Conservation activities = <!-- A summary of the conservation activities, followed by a table of key activities -->
Since 2011, Friends of the Environment and Culture (FOTEC) has worked towards protecting the flora and fauna at the site ([https://www.globalnature.org/en/living-lakes/africa/sonfon-lake GNF]). The Conservation Society of Sierra Leone has also conducted conservation activities in the area, including awareness raising and support for alternative livelihood programs ([https://cs-sl.org/where-we-work/ CSSL]).
'''Table 4. Conservation activities in Lake Sonfon'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="conservation-actions-table"
!align="left"|Category <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE CATEGORIES -->
!Specific activity <!-- For specific threats, please use list from the list linked below, OR enter “Not reported” -->
!Description <!-- Add descriptive information -->
!Year of activity <!-- Add descriptive information -->
|-
|1. Residential & commercial development
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|3. Energy production & mining
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|4. Transportation & service corridors
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|5. Biological resource use
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|7. Natural system modifications
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|9. Pollution
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|10. Education & Awareness
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|11. Habitat Protection
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|12. Species Management
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|}
[[Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)]]
= Challenges = <!-- Overview of challenges in ape conservation -->
'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Lake Sonfon'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="challenges-table"
!align="left"|Challenge <!-- Do not change categories -->
!Source <!-- Source for challenge mentioned -->
|-
|Not reported
|
|-
|}
= Research activities = <!-- Overview of research activities -->
===Documented behaviours=== <!-- List of any behaviours observed at the site, including citations -->
'''Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Lake Sonfon'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="behaviors-table"
!align="left"|Behavior
!Source
|-
|Not reported
|
|-
|}
=External links=
= References =
Brncic, T.M., Amarasekaran,B. & McKenna,A. 2010. Final Report of the Sierra Leone National Chimpanzee Census Project. Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Freetown, Sierra Leone. <br>
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Sonfon and environs. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-sonfon-and-environs-iba-sierra-leone on 04/12/2023.<br>
Sesay, P. B. Abdulai Duada, A. D. Momoh Bai-Sesay M. B., Havery, S. J., Ashpole, J., Hillers, A. & Oppel, S. (2017) Report on the biodiversity of Lake Sonfon, Sierra Leone. Report to African Bird Club & Bread for the World. <br>
<br>
'''Page completed by: '''A.P.E.S. Wiki team''' Date:''' 24/11/2023 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->
- Wiki pages contain information in paragraphs, tables, lists, and images.
- Text and images are not restricted, and their formats can be chosen as desired.
- Tables and lists are extracted as data, so the following restrictions apply to them:
1) Table structure cannot be changed.
2) List format should not change, i.e. they are comma separated lists, not bullet points or numbered lists.
3) To make information comparable across wiki pages, keywords must be taken from the list of permitted words, or added to the list of permitted keywords. This is why we use official lists, e.g., IUCN classification lists, in our tables.
-->
[[West Africa]] > [[Sierra Leone]] > [[Lake Sonfon]]
= Summary = <!-- An overview of the site, with one sentence for each section. May include a site map -->
<div style="float: right">
{{#display_map: height=200px | width=300px | scrollzoom=off | zoom=5 | layers= OpenStreetMap, OpenTopoMap
|9.249629, -11.499968~[[Lake Sonfon]]~Western Chimpanzee
}}
</div>
* Western chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes verus'') may be present in Lake Sonfon.
* The population size is unknown.
* The chimpanzee population trend is decreasing.
* The site has a total size of 8 km².
* Key threats to chimpanzees are mining, hunting, and habitat loss due to agriculture.
* Conservation activities carried out by CSSL have focused on awareness raising and supporting livelihood alternatives.
= Site characteristics = <!-- A paragraph summary of physical and geographic aspects of the site, and a table of key information -->
Lake Sonfon is located in the mountainous northeastern part of Sierra Leone, at an altitude of 549 m above sea level. The vegetation around the lake comprises open grassland, wooded savanna, forest, and farmbush. Seven small streams flow into the lake, which provide a water source for local communities. The lake is also important to local people in terms of traditional beliefs and ceremonies (Sesay et al. 2017, BirdLife International 2023, [https://www.globalnature.org/en/living-lakes/africa/sonfon-lake GNF]). The site is an Important Bird Area (BirdLife International 2023). Western chimpanzees may be present around the lake; other large mammals in the Lake Sonfon environs include warthog, bay duiker, Maxwell’s duiker, bushbuck, buffalo, red river hog, and various monkeys (Brncic et al. 2010).
'''Table 1. Basic site information for Lake Sonfon'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="basic-information"
| Area <!-- Please include units: km2/ha e.g 200ha -->
|8 km²
|-
|Coordinates
|9.249629, -11.499968
|-
|Designation
|
|-
|Habitat types <!-- List IUCN Habitat Classification 3.0 categories present (without number), see link below -->
|Savanna, subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest
|}
[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/habitat-classification-scheme IUCN habitat categories] [[Site designations]]
= Ape status = <!--An overview of ape population status (population sizes, trends, etc.), followed by a table of specific surveys and results -->
Interviews were conducted around Lake Sonfon in 2009, which concluded that it does not contain a substantial chimpanzee population. The surrounding forest and woodland savanna may have several groups of chimpanzees (Brncic et al. 2010). Two of these groups were identified during the Bumbuna Hydroelectric Project Baseline Biodiversity Survey; the southernmost group was based near Worowaya ranging to the Seli River, comprising 8-16 individuals. A second group was located northeast of the Sel- Mawoloho confluence, comprising 6-9 individuals (Brncic et al. 2010). During a camera trap survey in 2016 chimpanzees were encountered at the site, though not on the camera traps (Sesay et al. 2016).
'''Table 2. Ape population estimates in Lake Sonfon'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="population-estimate-table"
! Species
! Year
! Abundance estimate (95% CI)
! Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI)
! Encounter rate (nests/km)
! Area
! Method
! Source
! Comments
! A.P.E.S. database ID
|-
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
|2009
|
|
|Present
|Lake Sonfon Forest Reserve
|Interview survey
|Brncic et al. 2010
|
|
|-
|''Pan troglodytes verus''
|2016
|
|
|Present
|Lake Sonfon Forest Reserve
|Camera trap
|Sesay et al. 2017
|Chimpanzees were observed, but not on the camera traps
|
|}
= Threats = <!-- a text overview of threats, followed by a table of key threats -->
During a 2009 survey, people from nearby villages identified mining, hunting, and farming activities as causing a decline in the chimpanzee population since the war (Brncic et al. 2010). The lake itself and the immediate environs are threatened primarily by artisanal gold mining. A significant amount of mining activity was seen at the lake and its surroundings, which is likely to reduce water quality, increase wildlife exploitation and increase forest clearance (Brncic et al. 2010).
'''Table 3. Threats to apes in Lake Sonfon'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="threats-table"
!align="left"|Category <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE THREAT CATEGORIES -->
!Specific threats <!-- For specific threats, please use list of comma separated keywords from the IUCN list linked below -->
!Threat level <!-- For threat level, please use keywords: low, medium, high, present, absent, unknown-->
!Quantified severity <!-- Enter any available quantification of the threat, e.g., the proportion of the area affected by the threat, hunting sign encounter rates-->
!Description <!-- Add descriptive information -->
!Year of threat <!-- Enter specific year(s), “ongoing”, or “unknown”. If the threat is ongoing, please add the year of reference in parentheses -->
|-
|1. Residential & commercial development
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
|2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops
|Low
|
|Habitat degradation due to farming activities (Brncic et al. 2010, Sesay et al. 2017).
|2010-Ongoing (2017)
|-
|3. Energy production & mining
|3.2 Mining & quarrying
|High
|
|Artisanal gold mining is the largest threat (Brncic et al. 2010, Sesay et al. 2017)
|2010-Ongoing (2017)
|-
|4. Transportation & service corridors
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|5. Biological resource use
|5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals
|High
|
|Hunting was reported as a main threat during a 2009 interview survey in the area (Brncic et al. 2010).
|Ongoing (2010)
|-
|
|5.3 Logging & wood harvesting
|High
|
|Logging and subsequent agricultural activities have degraded the forest (Brncic et al. 2010); charcoal extraction (Sesay et al. 2017).
|2010-Ongoing (2017)
|-
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
|6.2 War, civil unrest & military exercises
|Present, but severity unknown
|
|A decline in chimpanzee population was noticeable to local communities since the war (Brncic et al. 2010).
|1991-2002
|-
|7. Natural system modifications
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|9. Pollution
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|10. Geological Events
|
|Absent
|
|
|
|-
| 11. Climate change & severe weather
|
|Unknown
|
|
|
|-
|12. Other options
|
|Absent
|
|
|
|-
|}
[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/threat-classification-scheme IUCN Threats list]
= Conservation activities = <!-- A summary of the conservation activities, followed by a table of key activities -->
Since 2011, Friends of the Environment and Culture (FOTEC) has worked towards protecting the flora and fauna at the site ([https://www.globalnature.org/en/living-lakes/africa/sonfon-lake GNF]). The Conservation Society of Sierra Leone has also conducted conservation activities in the area, including awareness raising and support for alternative livelihood programs ([https://cs-sl.org/where-we-work/ CSSL]).
'''Table 4. Conservation activities in Lake Sonfon'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="conservation-actions-table"
!align="left"|Category <!-- PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE THE CATEGORIES -->
!Specific activity <!-- For specific threats, please use list from the list linked below, OR enter “Not reported” -->
!Description <!-- Add descriptive information -->
!Year of activity <!-- Add descriptive information -->
|-
|1. Residential & commercial development
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|2. Agriculture & aquaculture
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|3. Energy production & mining
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|4. Transportation & service corridors
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|5. Biological resource use
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|6. Human intrusion & disturbance
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|7. Natural system modifications
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|9. Pollution
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|10. Education & Awareness
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|11. Habitat Protection
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|12. Species Management
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives
|Not reported
|
|
|-
|}
[[Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)]]
= Challenges = <!-- Overview of challenges in ape conservation -->
'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Lake Sonfon'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="challenges-table"
!align="left"|Challenge <!-- Do not change categories -->
!Source <!-- Source for challenge mentioned -->
|-
|Not reported
|
|-
|}
= Research activities = <!-- Overview of research activities -->
===Documented behaviours=== <!-- List of any behaviours observed at the site, including citations -->
'''Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Lake Sonfon'''
{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="behaviors-table"
!align="left"|Behavior
!Source
|-
|Not reported
|
|-
|}
=External links=
= References =
Brncic, T.M., Amarasekaran,B. & McKenna,A. 2010. Final Report of the Sierra Leone National Chimpanzee Census Project. Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary, Freetown, Sierra Leone. <br>
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Lake Sonfon and environs. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/lake-sonfon-and-environs-iba-sierra-leone on 04/12/2023.<br>
Sesay, P. B. Abdulai Duada, A. D. Momoh Bai-Sesay M. B., Havery, S. J., Ashpole, J., Hillers, A. & Oppel, S. (2017) Report on the biodiversity of Lake Sonfon, Sierra Leone. Report to African Bird Club & Bread for the World. <br>
<br>
'''Page completed by: '''A.P.E.S. Wiki team''' Date:''' 24/11/2023 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->