GHANA:
Chimps were present at a very low density in the southwest corner of the country, at least until the mid- to late-1970's. The most recent sighting wasby Curtin (pers. comm.) at Bia National Park in 1976-1977.

GUINEA:
Field surveys by Y. Sugiyama and his colleagues in the late 1970's and in the 80's, and a nationwide questionnaire survey conducted with the help of Guinean government authorities in 1987 revealed that chimpanzees are distributed in 27-30 of the 36 prefectures in the country (Sugiyama & Soumah, 1988). Sugiyama estimated the entire population at 1,400-1,600, in contrast with an earlier estimate by Teleki (1987) of 8,000-10,000. Only the population of chimps at Bossou, which consisted of 19 chimps as of March, 1988, has been the subject of long-term study. Habitat protection is on a small scale: trapping and tree cutting are prohibited in central areas. Killing chimps is prohibited throughout the entire country, however those close to the Liberian border are exposed to poaching. Occasional patrols are conducted to curb this activity (Sugiyama pers. comm.).

IVORY COAST:
The Tai National Park (3,000km2) has an estimated population of 1,800 chimps (Boesch, pers. comm.) One community of chimps which ranges in a 27km2 area has been the focus of intensive study.

C. Boesch observed chimps in Azagny National Park in Sept., 1986, and it was thought that the park probably had two communities. Chimps were also reported seen many times in the area of the Comoe River in gallery forest south of Comoe National Park. Density is probably low as the habitat is rather arid.

LIBERIA:
Chimpanzees are rare and found in pockets of forest throughout the country. Estimates based on suitable habitat suggests the population could total 2,000-4,000 (Lee et al., 1988). Chimpanzee numbers have been decreasing rapidly due to hunting for food and for the export trade (Teleki, 1987). Areas of priority for conservation should be the far eastern and far western regions, because of their connection with Tai Forest in the Ivory Coast and the Gola Forest Reserve of Sierra Leone (see section on Sierra Leone below).

Ed. note: A nationwide census was attempted by P. and N. Marchesi but was interrupted by the civil war (see Boesch, PAN vol 1. no. 1)

MALI:
Chimps were confirmed living at Bafing River in the southwest part of the country in 1984. The population for the entire country is estimated at 500-700 (Moore, 1985 and pers. comm.). Moore states that "The only real protection that chimps have is their resemblance to humans and dietary proscriptions: Given an economic incentive to hunt them, the entire population could be eliminated very quickly as they live in close proximity with people."

The Bafing River chimps are the most marginally-living community in terms of the aridity of their habitat, and their protection should be a priority.

SENEGAL:
More than 100 chimps are thought to live at Mt. Assirik in the Parc National du Niokolo-Koba, where they are well-protected. Chimps are also found to the south and east of the park in Pays Bassari country (McGrew, pers. comm.). No good estimate of the country's chimp population is available, and a thorough survey of Senegal Oriental is needed.

SIERRA LEONE:
A nationwide survey in 1980 estimated the population to be around 2000 chimpanzees. The largest concentrations are thought to occur in the north near the border with Guinea (Lee et al., 1988). Recent evidence confirmed the presence of 50-100 chimps in the Gola Forest Reserve (745km2) in souteastern Sierra Leone (Davies, 1987 and pers. comm.), less than 50 chimps in the 12km2 Tiwai Island Game Sanctuary (Oates pers. comm.) and 50-100 chimps in Kilimi (Harding pers. comm.). The Tiwai Islands should be considered an extension of the Gola Forest Reserves. G. Davies did a preliminary population census in the Gola Forest where the intensity of hunting and poaching is high, and planned to begin a study of chimps there if funding became available.

Ed note: R. Alp and A.C. Kitchner are now involved in a study of the chimps of Outambi-Kilimi National Park, northern Sierra Leone.

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