Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 12254177

Primates are the one of the least studied and highly threatened mammal species in Benin. The red-bellied guenon (Cercopithecus erythrogaster erythrogaster) is endemic to the Dahomey Gap. It is classed as Endangered under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (UICN, 2011) and as Critically endangered by Neuenschwander et al. (2011). This project aims to collect data on red-bellied guenon ecology, ethnozoology, threats and to design tools and strategies for their management with high involvement of local communities. Specifically, the project will achieve the following goals:

• Improve the knowledge on Cercopithecus e. erythrogaster distribution, ecology, ethnozoology and threats facing red-bellied guenons in Gnanhouizounmè; 
• Create a group of stakeholders that will positively influence Cercopithecus e. erythrogaster conservation and management at different levels; 
• Elaborate action plan for red-bellied guenon conservation in Gnanhouizounmè. 

This project will efficiently contribute to the conservation of the remaining of Cercopithecus e. erythrogaster in Benin by organizing all the stakeholders around red-bellied guenon's management and conservation.