The preliminary research finding in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve, North-West Region, Cameroon.
The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee (Pan troglodyte ellioti)
The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee is the least studied of all chimpanzee subspecies(Morgan et al. 2011). Fewer than 6000 individuals remain in the wild, and its distribution is restricted to Cameroon and Nigeria (Morgan et al. 2011). The IUCN status is Endangered and is integrally protected (Class A) in Cameroon. The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee is present in Kom Wum Forest Reserve. About 83 individuals occur at the site, and the population trend is decreasing (Fotang et al. 2021). Major threats include hunting, logging, extraction of non-timber forest products, and agricultural expansion(Fotang et al. 2021).
The Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve ©Fotang Chefor
The Olive baboon (Papio anubis)
The olive baboons are present in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve. The IUCN status is Least Concerned and is partially protected (Class C) in Cameroon.
Female baboon (Papio anubis) with a juvenile captured by wildlife cameras in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve ©Fotang Chefor.
Putty-nosed monkey(Cercopithecus nictitans ludio)
More than 14 groups of Putty-nosed monkeys have been seen in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve. On several occasions, they were found in a mixed group with Mona monkeys (Cercopithecus mona) and, on four events, with Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees.
Black-casqued wattled hornbill (Corythaeola cristata) and Great Blue Turaco (Corythaeola cristata)
The presence of the black-casqued wattled hornbill and great blue turaco has been confirmed in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve. Both species have been seen several times in the reserve.
Great Blue Turaco (Corythaeola cristata) in Kom Wum forest reserve ©Fotang Chefor. The IUCN status is Least concern and is partially protected (Class B) in Cameroon.
Female black-casqued wattled hornbill in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve©Fotang Chefor. The IUCN status is Vulnerable and partially protected in Cameroon (Class C).
Nesting ecology of chimpanzees in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve.
The Nigeria-Cameroon Cameroon builds both tree and ground nests in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve. PRACOND researchers also encountered ground day nests and tree day nests in reserve. More than ten ground nests night nests were recorded during PRACOND surveys in 2018, showing that the chimpanzees feel safe in this site compared to other reserves in Cameroon’s North-West Region.
Fresh ground nest(left) and tree nest (right) chimpanzee in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve ©Fotang Chefor.
PRACOND researcher measures the circumference of a nesting tree in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve(left). The principal investigator searches for hair in a chimpanzee ground nest in Kom -Wum Forest reserve (right).
A researcher measuring the slope under a nesting tree in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve (left). A researcher searching for chimpanzee hair in a tree nest in Kom -Wum Forest reserve (right).
Diet of Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve
The chimpanzee of Kom-Wum Forest Reserve feed mostly on fruits. The figure below show chimpanzee dung dominated by fruit seeds.
Chimpanzee faeces encountered in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve dominated by fruit seeds©Fotang Chefor
Monitoring medium-to-large mammals wildlife species using camera trapping in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve
A researcher installing wildlife cameras with a community eco-guard( left) in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve ©Mvo Denis.
Conservation education, awareness programs, and sensitisation meetings on sustainable exploitation practices in local communities around Kom-Wum Forest Reserve
A researcher investigating from a local which primate species are present in Kom-Wum Forest Reserve ©Mvo Denis.