Information on fieldwork
About The nimba chimpanzee project
The Nimba chimpanzee study site is located in the Seringbara region of the Nimba Mountains in southeastern Guinea (West Africa). The Nimba Mountains range is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Biosphere Reserve. We study two communities of chimpanzees on the Western flank of the Nimba range, together with our Guinean collaborators at the Institut de Recherche sur la Biodiversité aux Monts Nimba (IReB-MN). The Nimba Chimpanzee Project was founded by Prof Kathelijne Koops in 2003. The chimpanzees of Nimba have a unique behavioural repertoire, including the use of tools, the consumption of freshwater crabs and constructing ground nests. Our project is committed to preserving the Nimba chimpanzees and their unique culture for future generations.
The breathtaking Nimba Mountains range from rocky peaks and high altitude meadows to deep valleys and rounded hill tops. The steep hills are covered by dense primary tropical forest interspersed with richly forested valleys. We have two small camps in the middle of the rainforest from which we study the two communities of chimpanzees (Tongbongbon and Gahtoy).
