Primates. 2026 Jul 23. doi: 10.1007/s10329-026-01276-x. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Cercocebus lunulatus, an endangered primate species, is endemic to three countries in West Africa, including Côte d’Ivoire. In this country, remnant populations of this species have survived in four protected areas including Comoé National Park, which is considered to harbor the largest wild population. However, the park faces significant anthropogenic pressures, including poaching, mining, and agricultural activities in peripheral areas, which hinder sustainable management and conservation efforts. For two decades, updated information on this species’ population size, group structure and food availability has been almost non-existent due to non-focused studies. From November 2021 to November 2022, we collected data using camera traps and phenological data in the park’s forest habitats. A total of 25 groups of white-naped mangabeys, estimated at about 1396 individuals, were recorded with seasonal variations in group size comprising 10 to 249 and 10 to 192 individuals in dry and rainy seasons, respectively. The mean density is 25.38 individuals /km². Groups comprise 44% juveniles, 27% adult females, 18% infants, and 10% adult males. Food item productivity (TotPI) averaged 2912 items/month in gallery forests and 1756 items/month in forest patches, but the choice of specific habitats is not statistically significant. Relying on phenological features, the group structure, marked by a high rate of juveniles and infants and a sex ratio largely in favor of females, we can assume that despite their endangered status, the viability of this species is not engaged.
PMID:42490020 | DOI:10.1007/s10329-026-01276-x
