International Journal of Primatology Research Research Article Baseline conservation information on Drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus) and Olive Baboons (Papio anubis) in the Menchum Landscape Northwest Region, Cameroon - MVO Denis Chuo1*, Tsi Evaristus Angwafo2,3 Fotang Chefor2, Taku Awa II1 and Akongte Peter Njukang1 1Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, Dschang, University of Dschang, Cameroon 2Department of Forestry, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences (FASA), Dschang, University of Dschang, Cameroon 3Department of Fundamental Science Higher Technical Teacher Training College (H.T.T.T.C.) Bambili University of Bamenda, Cameroon *Address for Correspondence: MVO Denis Chuo, Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, P. O. Box 222 Dschang, University of Dschang, Cameroon, Tel: +237-675398645; E-mail: Submitted: 26 January 2021; Approved: 10 February 2021; Published: 18 February 2021 Cite this article: Chuo MD, Tsi AE, Chefor F, Taku Awa II, Njukang AP. Baseline conservation information on Drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus) and Olive Baboons (Papio anubis) in the Menchum Landscape Northwest Region, Cameroon. Int J Primatol Res. 2021 Feb 18;4(1): 010-017. Copyright: © 2021 CHUO MD, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. International Journal of Primatology Research ABSTRACT Menchum landscape, has recently becomes a vital research ground for the conservation of a variety of wildlife and primate species, most especially the endangered Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes ellioti). Despite conservation eff orts, drills have been extinct in most of their natural habitats, with revealing presence of olive baboons due to overhunting and habitats loss. As such, this study was undertaken in the Menchum Landscape; Case study of the Kimbi-Fungom National Park (K-FNP) and Kom-Wum Forest Reserve (K-WFR), aimed to practically investigate the status of drills and baboons in order to contribute vital information for their conservation. Primary data were obtained through recces walk, whereby direct and indirect observations of bio-indicators and human signs were recorded and analyzed manually to obtain their encounter rate. From the results, 13 and 289 drills and olive baboons individuals were directly observed which gave a mean encountered rate of 0.10 signs/km and 2.21 signs/km respectively. Up to 38 voices of olive baboons were heard and and 16 carcass observed which gave an encountered rate of 0.33 signs/km and 0.17 signs/km respectively. Distribution analysis of these primates shows that 100% of drills and 27% of olive baboons were concentrated in the Black Bush Areas of Window. Anthropogenic activity gave an average encountered rate of 0.32 signs/km mean while all signs associated with hunting, registered the highest encountered rate of 0.68 signs/km. Thus, upgrading data on the abundance and distribution of drills and baboons, identifying areas of intense anthropogenic activities through eff ective conservation methods will greatly help to identify hotspots and ensure better protection for these species. Also, it is vital to undertake regular educational conservation plans to promote all stakeholders on the necessity to conserve the remaining species, especially the few drills population. Keywords: Anthropogenic activities; Conservation status; Drills; Menchum landscape; Olive Baboons ABBREVIATIONS previous habitats [11]. Although olive baboons are wildly distributed, this primate species continue to reduce in abundance in most of their K-FNP: Kimbi-Fungom National Park; K-WFR: Kom-Wum healthy habitats as they are heavily hunted, and hunting has instigated Forest Reserve; BBAW: Black Bush Areas of Waindow; NTFPs: Non local extinctions [1]. Timber Forest Products Th e Menchum landscape which recently have become a vital INTRODUCTION research ground for the conservation of a variety of wildlife species Drills and Baboons are just like other primates all over the wild including primates and most especially the endangered Nigeria- battles for survival as a result of increasing human infl uence in their Cameroon chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes ellioti) discovered in some protected and fragmented forest areas, have been reported of natural habitats [1,2]. Drills are one of the largest monkeys and one Drills (Mandrillus leucophaeus) and Olive Baboons (Papio anubis) of the most endangered primate species. Compare to other primate, presence [12-14]. With the exception of drills monkey, olive baboon they are the least understood, studied and little-known primates in monkey were both reported in the two protected (K-FNP and Africa [3]. Due to their very small geographic range, which covers K-WFR) and around some wildlife hotspot non-protected areas only the rain forest zone north of the Sanaga River in Cameroon to within the landscape [15,16]. Despite their presence, it is disturbing the Cross River in southeast Nigeria, and Bioko Island of Equatorial that conservation strategy around the landscape have never been Guinea [2-4]. Th ey inhabit an area roughly the size of Switzerland, considered a priority and population survey has been barely reported with possibly fewer than 3000 left in the wild. Th ey prefer living with little or no information on their ecology and status. Even in dense forest and will fl ee from humans [5]. Th ey are not well- though olive baboon’s species appear to be relatively abundant, no protected in any of their remaining habitat, and are hunted by the quantitative data is accessible [17]. Th e landscape is made up of local community for bushmeat to supplement their protein level [6], a wide range of habitats types and a reckoning population growth to produce traditional medicine, rituals and festivals [7]. Most of their seriously engage at diff erent levels of human activity that impact on suitable forest home continues to be loss due to unsustainable logging these primates status [18]. Within the landscape, several important and poor farming practices [3]. As a result of these threats, the IUCN forest patches and water catchments that are hotspots for biodiversity Red Data List classifi ed Drills among Africa’s most endangered are being degraded and fragmented as a result of illegal logging, mammals, and among African primates with the highest priority for unsustainable grazing and poor farming methods [19]. Base on conservation action in recognition of its taxonomic distinctiveness, this, some researchers holds that drills have been extinct from the restricted distribution and degree of threat from hunting and habitat landscape with olive baboons barely seen in most of their natural destruction [8]. Cameroon drill monkey just like the Nigerian- habitats due to decades of hunting and habitats destruction [20,21]. Cameroon chimpanzee, Cross River gorillas Preuss’s monkey and the As such, conservation initiatives for the species are hindered by a African golden cat, will go extinct if conservation action is not taken poor understanding of their ecology and status as no studies of drills seriously [9]. Due to continues decline of drill numbers in all known and olive baboons have taken place around the landscape. Th is means habitat areas for decades and in areas where their presence have not that no scientists has successfully carried out a long-term study to yet been discovered, especially in non-protected areas. tell the conservation status of these species in the wild. Th erefore, in the absence of such studies, understanding their social structure Notwithstanding the fact that, olive baboons are widespread and habitat requirements pose a serious problems as very little throughout equatorial Africa and are found in 25 countries, information exists on behavioral patterns in the wild. Based on this, understanding their status is important for its ecology, conservation, the study was carried out with the main objective to set up base line management, disease control, and sustainable use of its benefi t [10]. information for future study by practically investigating the presence Furthermore, it will increase awareness of both the conservationist of drills and olive baboons as well as their status that will contribute to and local community about their disappearance in some of their improving their conservation in the Menchum Landscape. SCIRES Literature - Volume 4 Issue 1 - www.scireslit.com Page - 011 International Journal of Primatology Research MATERIAL AND METHODS vegetation types of the area (primary forest, secondary forest, gallery forest and Savannah) and drainage features (rivers and streams) in Description of case study areas order to sample a representative proportion of all vegetation types. Case study area of kimbi fungom national park: Th e Kimbi- Th e start and end point of each recce was determined using a global Fungom National Park (K-FNP), created on February 3, 2015 by positioning system (GARMIN 62CSx) to obtain the distance covered. a Prime Ministerial decree number 2015/0024/PM is located in the A total of 43 recces of 2km each were covered giving a total distance North West Region of Cameroon approximately at latitude 6.5-6.9° of 86km throughout the study areas. 2 N and longitude 9.8-10.5° E with a total surface area of 953.8 km Following White and Edwards’s method (2000), the recce survey [22]. Th e K-FNP cuts through 3 divisions: Boyo, Menchum, and teams was composed of one team leader, one fi eld assistants, one Donga-Mantung, covering 4 Sub-divisions: Fonfuka, Fungom, Furu- labourer and a local hunter. Th e leader was responsible for reading Awa, and Misaje [14]. In the north, it is bordered by Tumbo and the bearing; look out for signs and observations and recording data Tosso in Nigeria, Baji, Nser, Kpep, Furubana, Supong, Akum, Edjong with the help of a GPS. Th e assistance carrying a pair of binoculars and river Katsina Ala in Furu Awa sub-division. In the east by Labo, and a digital camera, looked out for signs and observations and Batari, and the Dumbo cattle ranch in the Misaje sub-division.