Tanoé Forest, South-Eastern Côte-d'Ivoire Identified as a High Priority Site for the Conservation of Critically Endangered Primates in West Africa

Abstract

Human-induced extinction rate of fauna has increased over the last century. The danger is particularly acute in the tropics where conservation resources are scarcest, where habitat conversion is more rapid, and where the threat to biodiversity especially to primate species and populations is greatest. This is the case for the whole primate community occurring at the eastern part of the Upper Guinea forests. The situation is particularly critical for Côte d'Ivoire. To update the distribution and conservation status of primates in south-eastern and south-central Côte d'Ivoire, we conducted surveys consisting of interviews and walks in selected forests reserves, National Parks, private forests, and unprotected forests in Côte d'Ivoire in 2004-2006. Among the forests surveyed, the Tanoé forest is the only forest where several endangered primate taxa have survived. The diana roloway ( Cercopithecus diana roloway) was found and the Miss Waldron's red colobus ( Piliocolobus badius waldronae) was suspected in this forest. These monkeys are listed among the 25 most threatened primates in the world and the probable extinction of the latter was reported in the literature. The Tanoé forest also supports two Endangered monkey species ( Cercocebus atys lunulatus and Colobus vellerosus) and one Near Threatened monkey species ( Procolobus verus). This forest represents the most “threatened hotspot” for primate diversity and a priority for primate conservation in West Africa. Throughout Tanoé forest, Primate Conservation Societies have a unique opportunity to prevent the extinction of West African primates that are under severe threats.