The aim of this study is to determine the status and habitat use pattern of the Roloway money in Ghana. The Roloway is a rare, tree-based monkey that is at risk through habitat loss and hunting.
The Roloway guenon is a rare subspecies of the Diana guenon, historically found in West Africa between Ghana and Gambia. Roloways are arboreal and are found mainly in mature undisturbed forest but have been reported in secondary forest as well as farmland. Recent surveys have noted the decline and even absence of Roloway monkeys in parks where they have traditionally been found.
The aim of this study is to determine the Roloways' status and habitat use patterns in Ghana. The study will provide data on their distribution and estimates of density. Locational data will be supplemented by data collected for habitat use patterns (based on stand conditions, plant species and ranging behaviour). In addition the study will address the need for more extensive surveys in Ghana's high forest zone. Interviews and field surveys will be conducted in at least eight forest sites in Ghana, following on from earlier presence/abundance surveys. Interviews will be conducted with farmers, villagers, hunters and wildlife / forestry personnel to gauge the general distribution of local primate populations as well as to determine a rough estimate of human-use pressure and attitudes towards conservation measures. The results will identify areas of conservation priority while also providing useful comparisons to previous research.
In January 2003 Lindsay was given Continuation funds to carry on with her study.