Chimps & Communities Fighting for Survival Through Drought Season

The dry season in Guinea, starting in November and lasting until April, is a time of both beauty and challenge for the region’s ecosystems and communities. Characterised by significantly reduced rainfall, this seasonal shift poses risks to the fragile balance between wildlife habitats and human livelihoods.

Historically, the dry season has been defined by droughts which decrease the availability of water and contribute to heightened competition for resources among both wildlife and local communities. In more recent years, the effects of a changing climate have intensified these seasonal challenges, leading to longer dry spells and more severe droughts. As vegetation withers and water sources dwindle, the implications for the environment are massive – chimpanzee habitats become increasingly vulnerable and at the same time, agricultural activities are under threat. As we enter the 2024-25 dry season, it is important to understand the potential challenges that it will present for conservation efforts and local livelihoods in Guinea.

The 2023-24 dry season’s harsh conditions came to a head in April when a devastating fire broke out in one of our partner’s orphaned chimpanzee enclosures. The extreme dryness not only decimated the vegetation that forms the chimpanzees’ natural habitat but also turned the surroundings into highly flammable matter. This near-tragedy highlighted the urgent need for improved water management; access to reliable water sources is not only essential for sustaining crops and human communities but is also a lifeline for wildlife and conservation facilities. Without a secure water supply, both natural habitats and man-made enclosures become far more vulnerable to the escalating dangers posed by drought, including fires like the one seen last April.

But the potential impact of a drought this dry season goes far beyond immediate fire hazards. Agriculture is the country’s main source of employment, critical for poverty reduction and rural development, providing income for 57% of rural households and employing 52% of the workforce meaning that the effects of a drought will devastate the country’s economy. A drought will threaten the agricultural projects that our partners have worked hard to establish, particularly in the newly developed rice farming areas. With reduced water availability, crop failures are becoming a real possibility, placing both the livelihoods of the Komoya community and the region’s wildlife at risk. In times of economic stress, the temptation to resort to unsustainable practices such as illegal logging and hunting increases, endangering both forests and the chimpanzees that call them home.

Drought exacerbates competition between wildlife and humans for dwindling resources such as water and food. This scarcity increases the risk of human-wildlife conflict, potentially leading to more frequent and dangerous encounters between communities and chimpanzees. For these primates, the combined threats of habitat loss and conflict with humans could have devastating consequences.

As we approach this dry season, your support is more vital than ever. Together, we can continue to protect Guinea’s chimpanzees and the communities that live alongside them. Help us protect these incredible animals by adopting a chimpanzee today and be part of the solution.