By Ethel Sillah
FREETOWN, June 3 (232news.com) – Declaring the Western Pan troglodytes Verus as the ‘national animal of Sierra Leone and the new face of tourism is a laudable venture and should not be taken lightly. However, this declaration is not limited to the protection of chimpanzees alone but rather a stepping-stone for the protection of the country’s rich flora and fauna which the government had committed to doing by becoming a member of the International Union for Conservation Nature –Flora, and Fauna (IUCN) and the signing of other international instruments. With this in mind, great emphasis should be on the protection of the national animal’s natural habitats and the environment at large. Sierra Leoneans both young and old and in all sectors should be hands-on in addressing the decline in the population of chimpanzees and the effects this will have on the ecosystem.
In addressing the impact of climate change on the country, the protection of animals and forests should be a priority. Chimpanzees play a critical role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem and the regeneration of the forest through seed dispersals.
Meanwhile, Sierra Leone has experienced and will continue to experience an alarming increase on environmental threats such as harsh weather conditions that precipitate climate change and natural disasters if not adequately looked into at this stage. These unaddressed threats could also lead to land degradation and food insecurity and the loss of critical species and other natural resources which includes water and trees. With intact forests, communities will produce enough food for consumption and commercial purposes despite experiencing extreme weather conditions.
Since 1995, Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary (TCS) has been fighting to put an end to the massive ongoing deforestation in the country. They have served as guardians to the forests along the western area peninsular otherwise known as the national protected area for over 25 years and are active in 5 Districts. The fight to end poaching and encroachment of habitats should not be swept under the carpet if we are to take pride in rebranding the touristic image of the country using the national animal – the chimpanzee.
The sanctuary through its Outreach Program continue to advocate for the protection of forests and chimpanzees through caring for 111 rescued orphan chimps and providing shelter and new life for them after years of experiencing psychological distress living in human homes.
In the just-concluded ‘Chimp Week’ aimed at creating awareness of the status and protection of the national animal, the world’s famous primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall, (DBE) in her message reiterated that Sierra Leone is the only country in the world having a chimp as the national animal. She maintained that protecting chimpanzees and the forests helps to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to provide oxygen. According to Dr. Jane, C02 is plenty in the atmosphere and is in the form of a blanket trapping the heat from the sun leading to climate change. Therefore, the need to protect the forest should be a priority as forests protect catchments, regulate rainfall and temperature, protect biodiversity, and improve food security.
The protection of chimpanzees is a flagship program of Tacugama to advocate for the protection of other amazing species and the country’s rich biodiversity. However, it is sad to note that some of these species are critically endangered and on the brink of becoming extinct. “The protection of their habitats should become a burden on citizens and not a choice.”
