Diversité, Distribution Et Statut De Conservation Des Primates Dans Les Reliques De Forêts Dans La Région Du Tonkpi, À L’ouest De La Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

Tropical forests constitute the main part of the non-human primate’s habitat but they are more and more fragmented because of anthropic activities. In Ivory Coast, the present forest cover includes only some fragments more or less important. The knowledge of the primate’s diversity and their distribution in these relics of forest constitute some hopeful elements for their conservation. This study has been carried out in two classified forests and a community forest of the Tonkpi area in the West of Ivory Coast. It aims first, to assess the species of primates, then to highlight their spatial distributions and at last, determine their conservation status and the threats there are facing. The methodology used consisted firstly, on interview among hunters and older living around the forests to have an overall view of the monkey species in the area and the forests that housing them. Next, foot surveys have been organized in the identified forests during the interview. At the end of this study, seven species of primates belonging to West African forests have been confirmed in these forest relics base on observation of nests, vocalizations and visual signs. The majority of these species are observed at the periphery of forests mainly in mountain and flooded areas apart from Galagoïdes thomasi which is more abundant even in fallow land. Among those species, one (Piliocolobus badius) is listed Endangered (EN) and Colobus polykomos is considered vulnerable (VU) by IUCN; and five others are least Concern (LC). The sustainable conservation of those primates is threatened by agriculture, traditional and industrial mining, hunting and logging. The existence in those forest relics of primate species with conservation concerned justify their value for the sustainable conservation of those primates and the need to reinforce measure of protection.