The Endangered Rondo Galago (Galagoides rondoensis) is endemic in coastal forest patches of Tanzania. It is classified as endangered by IUCN (Perkin, 2019; 2020) due to its extremely limited and fragmented range in a few remnant patches of coastal forests, notably, Pugu-Kazimzumbwi, Zaraninge, Pande, Rondo, Litio, Ziwani, Chitoa, Ruawa and Ndoto forest patches (Honess, 1996). Their present present status is unknown. Intensification of anthropogenic activities such as deforestation, agriculture, logging, urbanization and infrastructure development of roads and railway lines also provide strong rationale for conducting primate surveys. Different forms of habitat alterations threaten most primates with extinction (Estrada and Garber, 2022; Estrada et al., 2017). Most of those activities have been reported to affect G. rondoensis and its habitats across various parts of coastal forests including the Pugu Nature Forest Reserve (Gwegime, 2016). Anthropogenic activities have severely affected most coastal forests and their biodiversity (Clarke and Dickson, 1995). These activities have been making most coastal forest fragments and woodlands potentially vulnerable to changes. The Central government of Tanzania has encouraged local communities across coastal villages to set aside some forested land for conservation. As a consequence, a net work of different sized forest fragments have been set aside for conservation of coastal endemics. The initiatives were prompted because of concentration of endemic flora. However, emphasis was not rendered for primates especially these endangered primates (e.g. Rondo galago). Therefore, there is a strong need to carry out surveys for the endangered primates. The major purpose of this proposed project is to contribute to the conservation of Endangered Rondo galago in Tanzania by: 1) determining its distribution, extent of coocurrences in unsurveyed forest areas in Handeni, Tanzania 2) determining their population size and 3) assessing its conservation threats for the species.

The Rondo Galago (Galagoides rondoensis) is endemic in coastal forest patches of Tanzania. It is classified as Endangered by IUCN due to its extremely limited and fragmented range in a nine remnant patches of coastal forests (Honess et al., 2008; Gwegime et al., 2013; Gwegime, 2016; Perkin, 2020). Among the remaining forest patches, only the Zaraninge Forest was annexed to the famous Saadani National Park while the rest are threatened with anthropogenic activities. The current distribution range of Rondo galago constitutes the southern range (Pwani and Lindi Regions) which was subject to previous surveys (e.g. Gwegime et al., 2013; Kiwia,2006; Murphy 2015), but not the northern coastal strip of the Indian Ocean (Tanga Region). Thus, northern coastal strip was not surveyed for any primate species. Ad-hoc interviews with local people at Kiva ward in Handeni DC provide a strong evidence for the presence of dwarf galagos known to inhabit community forest patches since time immemorial. My impromptu visits in two forest patches in Kiva ward in Handeni in 2021, recorded advertisement calls similar to the ones heard from Pugu-Kazimzumbwi and Ruvu South Nature Forest Reserves, thus prompting a proposed study to affirm their (dwarf galagos) presence. This project aims to confirm/affirm the presence of Rondo galago in in unsurveyed coastal forest fragments in Tanga Region by focussing on its distribution, population status and conservation threats. Surveys of the endangered galago in the proposed study area will serve as a flagship to conserve diverse endemic flora and fauna including primates in study area. This project will also conduct conservation awareness activities in this area.

The general objective for this proposed project is to carry out confirmation surveys for the Endangered Rondo galago (Galago rondoensis) in unsurveyed of forest patches of coastal forests in Handeni, Tanzania