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- Title
The First Sightings of the Red-Bellied Guenon (Cercopithecus erythrogaster erythrogaster) on the Western Edge of Southwestern Nigeria.
- Authors
Goodwin, Reiko Matsuda; Orimaye, Jacob Oluwafemi; Okosodo, Francis E.; Ogunjemite, Babafemi G.; Houngbedji, Mariano G.
- Abstract
To better understand the status and distribution patterns of threatened anthropoids, we conducted walking surveys and interviews on the western edge of southwestern Nigeria. As we surveyed, we recorded all sightings of the monkeys and evidence of anthropogenic disturbance. We also examined the extent of forest in the southern part of our study area, in particular, Eggua Forest Reserve and Ohumbe Forest Reserve, using Landsat 8 band images. The number of anthropoid species encountered during the surveys varied from zero to four. We sighted C. erythrogaster at Atola community forest (Encounter rate = 0.27 group/km), Royal Forest (private forest) (Encounter rate = 0.08 group/km), and Bola Camp community forest. These are seasonally inundated or riverine forests. The bellies of the C. erythrogaster individuals we saw at the two latter localities indicate that they are C. erythrogaster erythrogaster. No other threatened anthropoids were sighted. At Igboju community forest (part of Eggua FR), where an interviewee stated that C. e. erythrogaster occurs, we only saw mona monkeys (Cercopithecus mona). Bola Camp and adjacent communities, where about 9 km2 of riverine forest still remains and hunting is limited, have a potential to develop a conservation program. Creating corridors to connect Igboju, Royal Forest, and southern forest fragments in Eggua FR for the conservation of C. e. erythrogaster is also recommended. With our new information, the distribution range of C. e. erythrogaster has now been expanded to east of Benin, but it is still uncertain how widespread this subspecies is. The future of this taxon in this region, however, does not look bright considering the levels of hunting, logging, farming, cattle herding, and fire set by cattle herders that we witnessed. Thorough surveys along Yewa River including Igboju, and fragmented forests in two forest reserves are necessary in the near future.
- Subjects
NIGERIA; CERCOPITHECUS; MONKEYS; WILDLIFE conservation; SPECIES distribution
- Publication
African Primates, 2017, Vol 12, p37
- ISSN
1093-8966
- Publication type
Article