Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program

Top African Primatologist Joins BBPP

Spring 2006: Dr. Tom Butynski, one of Africa's best known primatologists joined BBPP as senior conservation biologist.

Dr. Butynski has implemented research and conservation projects in Africa for over 35 years, mostly in Botswana, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Equatorial Guinea.  Most of his research has been on the behavior, ecology and conservation status of tropical forest primates and birds.  His primary conservation focus is on tropical forests that hold especially high numbers of endemic and threatened species.  Dr. Butynski serves on more than a dozen scientific and conservation committees, is the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group's Vice-chair for Africa, Senior Editor of the journal African Primates, and Coeditor of the book series The Mammals of Africa.  He has well over 100 scientific publications.

Grants Available for Study Abroad Students

Spring 2006: Arcadia University has been awarded a grant from the IFSA Foundation that will provide $1500 travel scholarships to study abroad students for international airfare between the US and Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. These travel scholarships apply to both fall 2006 and to spring 2007.

Spring 2006: Arcadia University was recently awarded a Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) grant for our fall 2006 study abroad program in Equatorial Guinea. This grant allows for a number of program initiatives, including international flight scholarships which will be available to participating students. Additional need-based scholarships may also be available to qualified applicants.

Public Radio Covers BBPP's Conservation Efforts

January 5, 2006: Public Radio International's The World interviewed Gail Hearn, Wayne Morra and others about the conservation status of Bioko Island's monkeys for a program (Endangered Monkeys, 10:40 min) that aired on January 5, 2006.

BBPP Wins $384,000 Grant to Develop Ecotourism

December 2005: The ExxonMobil Foundation awarded BBPP a $384,000 Grant to develop tourism on Bioko Island. The funds will allow BBPP to build a research station and animal sanctuary in the Southern Highlands village of Moka.

Philadelphia Inquirer Covers BBPP in 8-Part Series From Bioko Island

January 2005: Philadelphia Inquirer 8-part series: A reporter (Andrew Maykuth) and photographer (Barbara Johnston) from the Philadelphia Inquirer accompanied the expedition in January 2005, filing articles and photographs from the field. Their first article, Prime goal: Preserving a primate, appeared on the front page of the Inquirer on Sunday, December 26, 2004. To view the Inquirer's full coverage of the expedition (eight articles), go to go.philly.com/africa (free registration required.) In addition to writing stories, the reporter, Andrew Maykuth, kept a weblog of the expedition, available at bioko.blogspot.com.

The Inquirer articles:

• Part 1: Prime goal: Preserving a primate
  An Arcadia professor starts a yearly trip to an African rain forest to protect a monkey that hunting could wipe out.
• Part 2: More than primates: Taking on sea turtles
• Part 3: Making conservation pay
  Cash changes mind-set of villagers living amid rare species.
• Part 4: A high-tech tool to track wildlife
  In a jungle of Equatorial Guinea, the jury-rigged device may help scientists save threatened species.
• Part 5: Primate team finds grim sign
  Fewer drills, more shells point to increased hunting.
• Part 6: Professor's labor of love aims to save living lab
• Part 7: Good news as elusive as the monkey
• Part 8: Money as hard to find as endangered primate