The Ader's Duiker -Cephalophus adersi- is an endangered species accepted to be extinct in its original range on the African mainland coastal thicket and forests of the Kenyan coast. Today, only a relict population survives on Zanzibar (Unguja) island and this small population continues to dwindle as a result of habitat destruction and uncontrolled hunting despite being protected by Zanzibar law (Archer 1994). A long-term captive breeding program is now proposed by the Department of Forestry of Zanzibar, but urgent attention is required if this species is to avoid extinction.

Therefore, in 1995 CHICOP began work with the Department of Forestry towards the establishment of an Ader’s duiker sanctuary in the Chumbe forest. Consultants of the Department and of CHICOP studied conditions there, and the Chumbe forest was found to be of exceptionally good quality to provide suitable habitat for these duikers (D. Aplin; A. Williams).

Therefore, in December 1997 the first duiker was translocated to Chumbe, as a pilot test, and in February 2000, following much preparation throughout the International Conservation Community, and with assistance from international experts, five more individuals were brought to the island. Following the principles of re-introductions of endangered species, as outlined by IUCN, monitoring procedures are in place using remote camera sensors located in key areas in the forest, where they monitor the animals behaviour, territory and feeding patterns (J. MacPherson & D. MacPherson).

This Project is managed in collaboration between Chumbe Island Coral Park (CHICOP) and The Wildlife Division of The Department of Commercial Crops, Fruits and Forestry (formally the Commission for Natural Resources) within the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environment and Co-operatives of Zanzibar. Munich-Hellabrunn Zoo and the Mammal Ecology Research Group (MERG), Royal Holloway University, London provided technical support. The Project was financed and supported by Chumbe Island Coral Park Ltd. (CHICOP), Chicago Zoological Society (CZS), Eco-tec (Zanzibar) Ltd., World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Fauna and Flora International (FFI), British Ecological Society (BES), British Airways, Munich-Hellabrunn Zoo, and Bavarian Television.

More information:

Report from Duiker survey June 2009 (PDF)