The populations of endangered primates in the Lokoli forest of Benin

This study was conducted in the Lokoli forest (5 km2) in the Guinean forest zone of Benin. It made it possible to reveal the threat to the primates by examining their population levels and analyzing the key points for their protection in different habitats. In total, 6 species of primates were identified: the mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona), the tantalus monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops tantalus), the black-and-white colobus (Colobus vellerosus), the olive colobus (Procolobus verus), the Senegal galago (Galago senegalensis) and the redbellied monkey (Cercopithecus erythrogaster erythrogaster). The Lokoli forest constitutes one of the last refuges of the species and sub-species of rare and endangered primates in Benin. According to the IUCN criteria, the mona monkey and the tantalus monkey are species threatened with extinction (there
are less than 20 individuals) in the swampy forests of Lokoli whereas the olive colobus, the black-and-white colobus and the red-bellied monkey are in serious danger of extinction (there are less than 50 individuals). Cases of polyspecific
association, usually composed of the mone and other species, were observed within the different groups of primates.

Auteurs: 

Achille Ephrem Assogbadjo, Brice Sinsin

Adresses:

Université d'Abomey Calavi, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Laboratoire d'Ecologie Appliquée (UAC/FSA/LEA)- Bénin- 03 BP 1974 Cotonou, Benin Tel: +229 21 36 01 26 / +229 21 31 79 93/229 21 30 30 84
Fax: +229 21 30 30 84