Pygmy Hippo Research

The pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) is one of the most important High Conservation Value species of the Gola Forests in Sierra Leone and Liberia and a flagship species for these parks. Pygmy hippos are listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and occur in only four countries in West Africa (Sierra Leone, Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea). They are found along rivers and streams in forested areas, which have become increasingly fragmented and face continued pressure linked to human activities such as agriculture, logging and mining. There is no reliable estimate for the remaining pygmy hippo population in the wild, but it is believed to range from 2,000 to 3,000 individuals. Pygmy hippos are very elusive and solitary animals, which makes information about their distribution and ecology scarce. However, we know they are very sensitive to habitat destruction and are also hunted for bushmeat.

Map of Pygmy Hippo signs recorded between 2008 and 2022.

The Greater Gola Landscape in Sierra Leone and Liberia is one of the last remaining habitats for pygmy hippos in the wild and is therefore critical for their survival. Thanks to generous funding from Zoo Basel, the research team at GRC has been able to learn more about the pygmy hippos in Gola and educate local communities about the importance of this species. Our research has included community questionnaires, surveys of Gola’s vast network of rivers and streams, camera trapping and transect walks. We've orchestrated a series of impactful awareness initiatives, including road shows, radio broadcasts, community gatherings, and engaging activities with school children. To complement these activities, we have crafted a range of educational materials – from eye-catching posters to species fact sheets, bumper stickers, and T-shirts.

From our research, we have learnt that pygmy hippos primarily occur along the larger rivers and streams in Gola and are more abundant in community forest areas around the national park than within the park itself. The support of these communities is therefore vital to securing their future. The success of the species in Gola hinges on enlisting the communities themselves to safeguard these animals and help guard against encroachment, habitat degradation, and poaching.

In response, we piloted a Community Youth Conservation Volunteer programme, sponsored by Zoo Basel, to target unemployed youth in forest edge communities and empower them to become ambassadors for this threatened species. Since its launch in 2016, the programme has kindled awareness and rallied support for pygmy hippos among local people, assembling a dedicated team of community conservationists ready to champion the protection of pygmy hippos across key habitats outside the national park's boundaries.