Distribution of Dwarf Crocodile (Osteolaemus Tetraspis Cope, 1861) Populations on the Outskirts of the Ebo Forest: Implications for Conservation

Abstract

Purpose: The study was carried out in three riparian areas of the Ebo forest (Iboti, Lognanga and Ndokmem-North zones) to determine the distribution and status of dwarf crocodiles, and environmental factors influencing their distributions.  
 Materials and Methods: Survey on the various listed sites were carried out during the months of April, May and June 2023. The Qgis software was used to produce the distribution map of dwarf crocodiles in the periphery of the Ebo forest from the coordinates recorded at 11 water points using a GPS and 37 fishermen/ hunters were interview.
 Findings: The species were classified according to their status defined according to the IUCN red list protocol. The study showed that of the 11 water points studied, 6 were home to dwarf crocodiles, representing a proportion of 54.54%. Although we did not observed dwarf crocodiles in the watercourses in the Iboti zone, their presence is more established in the Lognanga zone (60%) than in the Ndokmem-north zone (40%). The average density of dwarf crocodiles in the periphery of the Ebo forest is around 0.50 crocodiles/km of riverbank covered. This implies that the population of dwarf crocodiles is decreasing and there is high need to increase conservation efforts to protect it from disappearing within the Ebo forest area.
 Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: To guarantee the survival and viability of crocodiles in the periphery of the Ebo forest, it is necessary to opt for organic agriculture, monitoring the quality of rivers and water bodies and regular ecological monitoring of crocodiles.