Evaluation of the status of threatened and endangered species population is critical to conservation decision. From May 2007 to April 2008 surveys were conducted on the Nigerian chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes ellioti Matschie, 1914) in the Gashaka-Mambilla region, Nigeria. An adaptation of the Standard Nest Count method (SNC) was used. The method involves walking on predetermined transects searching for chimpanzees’ nests. Eight chimpanzee sites in four major habitat types (montane, lowland rain, gallery and riparian forests) were surveyed. Chimpanzee presence was confirmed in seven of the sites. A total of 153 km of transects were traversed and 302 nests were enumerated. Chimpanzee density ranges from 0.16 km-2 in the gallery forest of Serti to 1.75 km-2 in the montane forest of Ngel Nyaki. The average density for the different habitat types are 1.1 0.64, 0.36 and 0.23 for montane, rain, gallery and riparian forests respectively. An average regional density of 0.58 chimpanzee km-2 was obtained. An estimated 870 – 897 weaned chimpanzees was computed to remain within the Gashaka-Gumti National Park. The result shows a reduction over previous estimates in the region.
PAPER TITLE :POPULATION STATUS OF THE NIGERIAN-CAMEROON CHIMPANZE (PAN TROGLODYTES ELLIOTI) IN GASHAKA-MAMBILLA R
JOURNAL Of SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY | VOLUME 1 NUMBER 1 2010
Paper Details
- Author(s) : OGUNJEMITE, B.G., ASHIMI, T.A, ADELEKE, A and OKEYOYIN, O.A.
- Abstract:
