Estimation of Chimpanzee’s (Pan Troglodytes Ellioti) Abundance in the KimbiFungum National Park and Kom-Wum Forest Reserve, Nw, Cameroon

Chuo, Mvo Denis; Angwafo, Tsi Evaristus; Fotang, Chefor; Fru, Billa Samuel

doi:10.4172/2327-4417.1000185

Cited by 4 publications

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“…This reserve harbours seven diurnal and six nocturnal primate species (Doumbé 2015 ; Chuo et al. 2017 ; Fotang 2018 ). About 10–83 chimpanzees live in the reserve (Fotang et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Mapping suitable habitat for Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzees in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve, North-Western Cameroon

et al. 2023

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Great apes lose suitable habitats required for their reproduction and survival due to human activities across their distribution range in Africa. Little is known about habitat suitability of the Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee [Pan troglodytes ellioti (Matschie, 1914)], particularly for populations inhabiting forest reserves in North-West Cameroon. To address this knowledge gap, we employed a common species distribution model (MaxEnt) to map and predict suitable habitats for the Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve, North-West Cameroon, based on environmental factors that potentially affect habitat suitability. We related these environmental factors to a dataset of chimpanzee occurrence points recorded during line transect and reconnaissance (recce) surveys in the forest reserve and surrounding forests. Up to 91% of the study area is unsuitable for chimpanzees. Suitable habitats only represented 9% of the study area, with a high proportion of highly suitable habitats located outside the forest reserve. Elevation, secondary forests density, distance to villages and primary forests density were the most important predictors of habitat suitability for the Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee. The probability of chimpanzee occurrence increased with elevation, secondary forest density and distance from villages and roads. Our study provides evidence that suitable chimpanzee habitat in the reserve is degraded, suggesting that efforts to maintain protected areas are insufficient. The reserve management plan needs to be improved to conserve the remaining suitable habitat and to avoid local extinction of this endangered subspecies.

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“…This reserve harbours seven diurnal and six nocturnal primate species (Doumbé 2015 ; Chuo et al. 2017 ; Fotang 2018 ). About 10–83 chimpanzees live in the reserve (Fotang et al.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All nests detected during the survey were constructed by chimpanzee, as gorillas are not present in this forest (Doumbé 2015 ; Chuo et al. 2017 ; Fotang et al. 2021a ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping suitable habitat for Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzees in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve, North-Western Cameroon

et al. 2023

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“…It has the famous waterfalls and cascades in highlands, a rich, unique and diverse cultural heritage in neighboring villages, attractive landscape and flagship species. It is one of the best reserve still harbouring suitable habitats for chimps with the highest number of chimpanzee (Morgan et al, 2011;Chuo and Tsi, 2017e) in the North West region as compared to Fungom, Mbember and Kimbi game reserve. Flagship species are species that can be used as the focus of a broader biodiversity conservation marketing campaign based on its possession of one or more traits that appeal to the target audience.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…The Kom-Wum forest reserve (17000 ha) is one of the largest remaining patches of the Bamenda highland montane forest. It is predicted to have the largest population density of chimpanzees and antelopes in the region (Chuo and Tsi, 2017e). It has been described as an exceptional priority conservation site for Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees (Morgan et al, 2011).…”

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“…It has been described as an exceptional priority conservation site for Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees (Morgan et al, 2011). Despite the importance of this reserve, over hunting and habitat loss are the major causes of fauna loss which are secondarily triggered by the conversion of forest to pasture and agriculture (Chuo and Tsi, 2017e). This conversion has been dramatic and the landscape has changed considerably over the last century, with just a few fragmented forests remaining that hold remnants of flagship species like the Nigerian-Cameroon chimpanzee (Pan tronglodytes ellioti) and antelope species (CAEPA, 2014).…”

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Status of Blue Duiker (Cephalophus monticola) and Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) in Kom -Wum Forest Reserve, North West Region, Cameroon

Ebua¹,

Angwafo²,

Chuo³

2018

IJEAB

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Environmental and anthropogenic effects on the nesting patterns of Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzees in North‐West Cameroon

Fotang

Bröring

Roos

et al. 2021

American J Primatol

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Environmental conditions and human activity influence the selection of nest sites by chimpanzees and may have serious conservation implications. We examined the characteristics of nesting trees preferred by chimpanzees, investigated the effect of vegetation composition and topography on nest site locations and seasonality on nesting heights of chimpanzees, and verified the effect of predator occurrence and human activity on the nesting behavior of the Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti) in Kom‐Wum Forest Reserve (KWFR) and surrounding unprotected forest in Cameroon. We recorded 923 nests, 502 signs of human activity, and 646 nesting trees along line transects and recces (reconnaissance) for two seasons. We found that chimpanzees constructed more arboreal nests on tall primary trees with high lowest branch height and large diameter at breast height. Moreover, they oriented their nests within trees in the slope direction when the nesting trees were located on slopes. Additionally, the occurrence of chimpanzee nests was positively related to increasing elevation and slope and decreased with distance to primary forest. In contrast, the number of nests increased with distance to secondary forest, open land, and villages, and nesting height was not influenced by seasons. While we recorded no signs of large nocturnal chimpanzee predators at nesting trees, we found signs of hunting activity at nesting locations. Nesting high in trees is likely a way of avoiding hunting, while nest orientation within trees in slope direction shortens escape routes from human hunters. Our findings suggest that chimpanzees select safe trees (tall trees with high lowest branch height) located in nesting areas (primary forest, high elevation, and steep slopes) that are not easily accessible by humans. Therefore, conservation efforts should focus on protecting primary forests at high elevation and steep slopes and reducing human impact.

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Estimation of Chimpanzee’s (Pan Troglodytes Ellioti) Abundance in the KimbiFungum National Park and Kom-Wum Forest Reserve, Nw, Cameroon

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Mapping suitable habitat for Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzees in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve, North-Western Cameroon

Mapping suitable habitat for Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzees in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve, North-Western Cameroon

Status of Blue Duiker (Cephalophus monticola) and Bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus) in Kom -Wum Forest Reserve, North West Region, Cameroon

Environmental and anthropogenic effects on the nesting patterns of Nigeria–Cameroon chimpanzees in North‐West Cameroon

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