The white-naped mangabey Cercocebus lunulatus, listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to severe habitat fragmentation and rapidly declining populations, remains one of the most elusive and poorly understood primates in Ghana (Dempsey, 2020). The species persists in small, isolated forest patches across Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso (McGraw, 1998; McGraw et al., 2006), with Ankasa Conservation Area (ACA) recognized as one of its last remaining strongholds in Ghana (Gatti, 2010; Koné et al., 2013). Previous research, however, has reported extremely low encounter rates within ACA, and recent camera trap efforts conducted by the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation Research (CBCR) detected the species only twice despite deploying 36 camera traps in 2023 (Amponsah pers. comm). These observations emphasize both its rarity and the challenge of monitoring it in dense forest environments.Taking into account CBCR’s findings, the initial project plan was revised to strengthen knowledge on the species' current range, habitat use, and persistence in ACA, working in partnership with the West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA), a Non - Governmental Organization in Ghana. This research builds-up on the earlier CBCR survey by directing effort around the only confirmed detection sites within the reserve. The project was revised to combine systematic camera trapping (Nolan et al., 2019), habitat assessment, and genetic sampling, thus also filling key knowledge gaps.

The project is currently guided by five main objectives, to:

1. Conduct targeted camera trapping in the specific locations within Ankasa Conservation Area (ACA) where CBCR detected white-naped mangabeys in 2025, to confirm continued presence and refine understanding of their local distribution.

2. Evaluate the habitat characteristics (forest structure, food availability, human disturbance) within the confirmed areas to determine suitability for sustaining the existing mangabey group(s) and potential future populations.

3. Assess whether these confirmed sites within the ACA meet ecological requirements to serve as a potential recipient area for the translocation of individuals from the reserved population, aligning with WAPCA’s objectives and Forestry Commission’s strategy.

4. Test non-invasive methods for genetic material collection to establish baseline data for future monitoring and population management.

5. Strengthen collaboration with ACA management, WAPCA, and local communities to ensure alignment with ongoing conservation efforts, build local stewardship, and prepare ground support for potential translocation.