Hello everyone,

My name is Justin Jay, and for the last fifteen years I’ve dedicated my life to documenting and protecting the incredible biodiversity of Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea. This island is a hotspot of ancient rainforest and volcanic peaks, and every dry season since 2010 we’ve come to its coastline to film and protect the endangered species that live here. We work with local communities, train eco-guards, and patrol the forests to help prevent the poaching that threatens so many of these unique animals.

When I first arrived on Bioko, I was working with leatherback sea turtles and heard about a primate that was disappearing before it had ever been filmed in the wild. That began my search for the drill monkey.

I had no idea that what I would learn about drills in their natural habitat would change my life. Since then, through our non-profit The Drill Project, I’ve committed myself to telling the story of this island and fighting for the survival of the species that depend on it.

Over the years, I’ve seen both the fragility and the resilience of this ecosystem. Hunting, habitat loss, and limited resources threaten wildlife, from the island’s 11 species of primates to the endangered sea turtles that nest on the Southern beaches. But I’ve also seen hope in the communities who want to protect their natural heritage and the young people who care deeply about conservation.

Bioko Island was recently recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, a milestone that highlights its global importance. But a title alone does not protect a forest. Only daily work on the ground can do that, and that is what this campaign supports.

We have begun a new field season, and we need your help to keep our work going. Over the next few months we will be deep in the forest setting camera traps, filming wildlife, carrying out anti-poaching patrols, and training local eco-guards and community members. These activities build real conservation capacity on the island and needs funding.

Fieldwork here is beautiful but demanding. Every expedition requires transportation to remote sites, fuel, food, equipment maintenance, local salaries, and the logistics that keep our small team safe and operational. None of this is possible without outside support.

That is why I am reaching out. Every contribution helps us stay in the field, continue documenting rare species, support eco-guards, and share Bioko’s story with the world through our films and outreach.

My commitment to this island is unwavering, but I cannot do this work alone. If you choose to support this campaign, you become part of the effort to protect one of the last truly wild places on Earth.

From the heart of the rainforest, thank you for standing with us and for helping ensure that the forests and wildlife of Bioko Island continue to thrive.

Justin Jay

The Drill Project