Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program

Gail Hearn

Director

Dr. Hearn started BBPP in 1998 to protect Bioko's primate species. Learn more about BBPP's early days here. Her current research focuses on the population decline of primate species on Bioko Island due to bushmeat hunting. A professor in the Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology at Drexel University, she received her bachelor's degree from Bryn Mawr College and a Ph.D. in protein biology from the Rockefeller University. She joined Drexel University in 2007.

Tom Butynski

Senior Conservation Biologist

Well-known conservation biologist and primatologist Tom Butynski joined BBPP in 2006. The author of over 100 research publications, Butynski's work focuses on mammalian and avian ecology, behavior, distribution and conservation status, especially African primates, antelopes, rodents and raptors. He serves as vice-chair for Africa of the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group, Africa Section, and senior editor of the journal African Primates.

Jose Manuel Esara Echube

Project director

Esara has been with BBPP since its inception in 1998 as a facilitator of on-island operations. He now also assists with the study abroad program. At UNGE, he is director of the environmental studies department.

Claudio Posa Bohome

Research director and field studies instructor

With a focus on botany and the medicinal and endemic plants of Bioko Island, Posa is a vital force in BBPP's field work and conservation research projects. He has accompanied every Caldera expedition since 2001 and now also assists with the study abroad program's tropical field biology course. He has a special interest in the plight of the African plum tree Prunus africana

Maximiliano Fero Mene

Field studies instructor

Fero Mene has accompanied multiple Caldera expeditions and now helps organize field studies. He was educated in Spain at La Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

Miguel Angel Ela Mba

Professor

Ela Mba received a 2006 master's degree in environmental education from Arcadia University with the help of a Chevron Texaco Corp. scholarship. He has since returned to UNGE where he teaches a course on "society and the environment" for the study abroad program. He was among the first UNGE professors to participant in the Caldera Expedition. He accompanied the expedition from 2000 to 2004.

Santiago Nsue Esono

Research analyst

Nsue Esono analyzes BBPP's sea turtle data. He is a 2005 UNGE graduate and was a participant in the 2004 study abroad program which paired UNGE students with visiting American undergraduates. He accompanied two Caldera expeditions, in 2005 and 2006.

Reginaldo Aguilar Biacho

Research Assistant

Aguilar Biacho collects the bushmeat market data. 

Demetrio Bocuma Mene

Assistant Manager, Moka Wildlife Center

Demetrio is the Assistant Manager of the Moka Wildlife Center.  He is a 2007 UNGE graduate and was a participant in the 2006 study abroad program which paired UNGE students with visiting American undergraduates.

Filemon Amara Etingue

Field Research Coordinator

Filemon has worked with BBPP for more than five years.  He is responsible for training wildlife patrols and coordinating field research.

Jessica Weinberg

Biodiversity coordinator

Jessica is setting up a wildlife and environmental education center at Moka in the Southern Highlands protected area. She completed the 2002 study abroad program on Bioko and spent six months doing conservation work on the Equatoguinean mainland. She is a 2003 graduate of Arcadia University with a major in psychobiology.

Sally Vickland

Program Coordinator

Sally Vickland joined BBPP in 2007. With a background in administration and fluency in both Spanish and English, she coordinates with UNGE and manages BBPP's activities on Bioko Island.

Bill Brown

Brown has been instrumental in constructing BBPP's Wildlife Research Center.

Jennifer Seale

As an American citizen living in Malabo, Seale offers logistical support to BBPP and represents BBPP on the US State Department Overseas Security Advisory Council.  She participated in the 2005 Caldera expedition.

Ilya Shmulenson

Intern

Ilya Shmulenson, a senior anthropology major at Hunter College (CUNY) is using his Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship to spend ten weeks on Bioko Island assisting with development of the Moka Wildlife Center

Drew Cronin

Resident director

Cronin studied abroad on Bioko in 2006.  He is a 2006 graduate of Arcadia University with a major in biology.