Azagny National Park: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
No edit summary Tag: Manual revert |
||
| (3 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
| Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
= Site characteristics = | = Site characteristics = | ||
Azagny National Park is situated 100 km due west of Abidjan. The vegetation of the park is varied and mostly comprises swamps of various types, which cover two-thirds of the park, swamp-forest, inundated riverine forest, relatively small amounts of moist evergreen forest on areas of higher ground, and mangrove. There is also some littoral savanna woodland. Azagny was originally created a protected area in 1981 (Pullan 1988) in part for the conservation of forest elephants (''Loxodonta africana'') and forest buffaloes (''Syncerus caffer''), both of which occur in good numbers, benefiting from the protection of the swamps. Other mammals of global conservation concern include olive colobus (''Procolobus verus''), white-thighed colobus (''Colobus vellerosus''), white-naped mangabeys (''Cercocebus lunulatus''), Roloway’s monkeys (''Cercopithecus roloway''), and slender-snouted crocodiles (''Crocodylus cataphractus'', BirdLife International 2019). | Azagny National Park is situated 100 km due west of Abidjan. The vegetation of the park is varied and mostly comprises swamps of various types, which cover two-thirds of the park, swamp-forest, inundated riverine forest, relatively small amounts of moist evergreen forest on areas of higher ground, and mangrove. There is also some littoral savanna woodland. Azagny was originally created a protected area in 1981 ([[#R00037|Pullan 1988]]) in part for the conservation of forest elephants (''Loxodonta africana'') and forest buffaloes (''Syncerus caffer''), both of which occur in good numbers, benefiting from the protection of the swamps. Other mammals of global conservation concern include olive colobus (''Procolobus verus''), white-thighed colobus (''Colobus vellerosus''), white-naped mangabeys (''Cercocebus lunulatus''), Roloway’s monkeys (''Cercopithecus roloway''), and slender-snouted crocodiles (''Crocodylus cataphractus'', [[#R00032|BirdLife International 2019]]). | ||
'''Table 1. Basic site information for Azagny National Park''' | '''Table 1. Basic site information for Azagny National Park''' | ||
| Line 42: | Line 42: | ||
= Ape status = | = Ape status = | ||
In 1988 (Hoppe-Dominik 1991) and 1989-1990 (Marchesi et al. 1995), strip transect surveys were conducted and yielded estimates of 30 and 57 individuals, respectively (whereby the 1995 estimate includes only weaned individuals). A line transect survey conducted by Herbinger (2007) recorded 88 nests on 56 km of transects surveyed. Transects of 1 km length, oriented in direction west/east, were separated from each other by 1 km in each direction and distributed systematically throughout the park. The precision of the abundance estimate of 47 weaned individuals (equivalent to 59 individuals in total using a correction factor of 0.8) was very low (CV= 52.4%), due to the fact that nests were recorded on only five out of 56 transects. Another survey was conducted in 2012 and differed in methodology in that it was a Rapid Assessment that surveyed recces of a total length of 23.5 km (WCF 2012). Recces were located in areas with a high probability of chimpanzee presence (based on previous surveys and chimpanzee habitat preferences). These methodological differences preclude the calculation of a population trend. | In 1988 ([[#R00035|Hoppe-Dominik 1991]]) and 1989-1990 ([[#R00036|Marchesi et al. 1995]]), strip transect surveys were conducted and yielded estimates of 30 and 57 individuals, respectively (whereby the 1995 estimate includes only weaned individuals). A line transect survey conducted by [[#R00034|Herbinger (2007)]] recorded 88 nests on 56 km of transects surveyed. Transects of 1 km length, oriented in direction west/east, were separated from each other by 1 km in each direction and distributed systematically throughout the park. The precision of the abundance estimate of 47 weaned individuals (equivalent to 59 individuals in total using a correction factor of 0.8) was very low (CV= 52.4%), due to the fact that nests were recorded on only five out of 56 transects. Another survey was conducted in 2012 and differed in methodology in that it was a Rapid Assessment that surveyed recces of a total length of 23.5 km ([[#R00038|WCF 2012]]). Recces were located in areas with a high probability of chimpanzee presence (based on previous surveys and chimpanzee habitat preferences). These methodological differences preclude the calculation of a population trend. | ||
During Phase III of the 2019 ecological monitoring, 20 nests were recorded along 1 km line transects, but this dataset was insufficient for a reliable estimate. As an alternative, data from Phase II and Phase III were pooled, resulting in a total of 64 nests and an estimate of 72 individuals, with a confidence interval ranging from 28 to 185. This estimate was generated using the Half-Normal model in Distance 7.2 software. An average estimate of 72 weaned individuals and a density estimate of 0.01 chimpanzees/km² suggest a very small population. According to WCS (2007), 17.5% of chimpanzees in Azagny National Park do not build nests. Based on this, the total population estimate may be closer to 85 chimpanzees (Azani Dede pers. comm. 2023). | During Phase III of the 2019 ecological monitoring, 20 nests were recorded along 1 km line transects, but this dataset was insufficient for a reliable estimate. As an alternative, data from Phase II and Phase III were pooled, resulting in a total of 64 nests and an estimate of 72 individuals, with a confidence interval ranging from 28 to 185. This estimate was generated using the Half-Normal model in Distance 7.2 software. An average estimate of 72 weaned individuals and a density estimate of 0.01 chimpanzees/km² suggest a very small population. According to WCS (2007), 17.5% of chimpanzees in Azagny National Park do not build nests. Based on this, the total population estimate may be closer to 85 chimpanzees (Azani Dede pers. comm. 2023). | ||
| Line 83: | Line 83: | ||
|Reconnaissance walk | |Reconnaissance walk | ||
| | | | ||
|Bitty et al. 2015 | |[[#R00033|Bitty et al. 2015]] | ||
|Recconaissance walk, not recorded for sites | |Recconaissance walk, not recorded for sites | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 96: | Line 96: | ||
|Reconnaissance walk | |Reconnaissance walk | ||
| | | | ||
|WCF 2012 | |[[#R00038|WCF 2012]] | ||
|Recconaissance walk, total survey effort: 23.5 km | |Recconaissance walk, total survey effort: 23.5 km | ||
| | |CIV0035, CIV0039<div class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" data-expandtext="+1 more" data-collapsetext="less">CIV0042</div> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''Pan troglodytes verus'' | |''Pan troglodytes verus'' | ||
| Line 109: | Line 109: | ||
|Line transects | |Line transects | ||
| | | | ||
|Herbinger 2007 | |[[#R00034|Herbinger 2007]] | ||
|Total survey effort: 56 km, estimate includes only weaned individuals | |Total survey effort: 56 km, estimate includes only weaned individuals | ||
| | |CIV0001 | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''Pan troglodytes verus'' | |''Pan troglodytes verus'' | ||
| Line 122: | Line 122: | ||
|Informed guess | |Informed guess | ||
| | | | ||
|Marchesi et al. 1995 | |[[#R00036|Marchesi et al. 1995]] | ||
|Mean density calculated for the national parks of the Guinean belt | |Mean density calculated for the national parks of the Guinean belt | ||
| | |CIV0061 | ||
|- | |- | ||
|''Pan troglodytes verus'' | |''Pan troglodytes verus'' | ||
| Line 135: | Line 135: | ||
|Interviews, Strip transect | |Interviews, Strip transect | ||
| | | | ||
|Hoppe-Dominik 1991 | |[[#R00035|Hoppe-Dominik 1991]] | ||
|Depending on habitat, straight strip transects were 20, 40 or 100 m wide | |Depending on habitat, straight strip transects were 20, 40 or 100 m wide | ||
| | | | ||
| Line 143: | Line 143: | ||
= Threats = | = Threats = | ||
The small population of chimpanzees in Azagny National Park is highly threatened because of habitat destruction, mainly illegal rubber and cocoa plantations, in an area that is naturally already partly unsuitable for chimpanzees due to deep swamp areas (Herbinger 2007). Bitty et al. (2015) estimated that about 40% (77.6 km2) of the natural habitat inside the park has already been converted into cocoa plantations. Moreover, high hunting pressure poses a direct threat to chimpanzee survival (Herbinger 2007, 2012, Bitty et al. 2015). Lastly, the strong and regular presence of humans within park borders due to fishing, hunting and agricultural activities exposes this small population to health risks related to human-chimpanzee disease transmission (Herbinger 2007). | The small population of chimpanzees in Azagny National Park is highly threatened because of habitat destruction, mainly illegal rubber and cocoa plantations, in an area that is naturally already partly unsuitable for chimpanzees due to deep swamp areas ([[#R00034|Herbinger 2007]]). [[#R00033|Bitty et al. (2015)]] estimated that about 40% (77.6 km2) of the natural habitat inside the park has already been converted into cocoa plantations. Moreover, high hunting pressure poses a direct threat to chimpanzee survival ([[#R00034|Herbinger 2007]], 2012, [[#R00033|Bitty et al. 2015]]). Lastly, the strong and regular presence of humans within park borders due to fishing, hunting and agricultural activities exposes this small population to health risks related to human-chimpanzee disease transmission ([[#R00034|Herbinger 2007]]). | ||
'''Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Azagny National Park''' | '''Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Azagny National Park''' | ||
| Line 156: | Line 156: | ||
|2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | |2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | ||
|High (more than 70% of population affected) | |High (more than 70% of population affected) | ||
|Cocoa and rubber plantations (Bitty et al. 2015). | |Cocoa and rubber plantations ([[#R00033|Bitty et al. 2015]]). | ||
|Ongoing (2015) | |Ongoing (2015) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 162: | Line 162: | ||
|5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | |5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | ||
|High (more than 70% of population affected) | |High (more than 70% of population affected) | ||
|Bitty et al. 2015 | |[[#R00033|Bitty et al. 2015]] | ||
|Ongoing (2015) | |Ongoing (2015) | ||
|- | |- | ||
| Line 168: | Line 168: | ||
|8.4 Pathogens | |8.4 Pathogens | ||
|High (more than 70% of population affected) | |High (more than 70% of population affected) | ||
|High risk of contracting human diseases by chimpanzees due to human intrusions (Bitty et al. 2015). | |High risk of contracting human diseases by chimpanzees due to human intrusions ([[#R00033|Bitty et al. 2015]]). | ||
|Ongoing (2015) | |Ongoing (2015) | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 199: | Line 199: | ||
|5 Protection & restoration | |5 Protection & restoration | ||
|5.2 Legally protect ape habitat | |5.2 Legally protect ape habitat | ||
|The site is designated as a national park since 1981 (BirdLife International 2019). | |The site is designated as a national park since 1981 ([[#R00032|BirdLife International 2019]]). | ||
| | | | ||
|1981-Ongoing (2026) | |1981-Ongoing (2026) | ||
| Line 205: | Line 205: | ||
|6 Species management | |6 Species management | ||
|6.7 Translocate (capture & release) wild apes from human impacted sites to natural habitat elsewhere | |6.7 Translocate (capture & release) wild apes from human impacted sites to natural habitat elsewhere | ||
|20 Liberian chimpanzees were released on an island on the park border in 1985; six remained in 1995 (Hoppe-Dominik 1991, Marchesi et al. 1995). | |20 Liberian chimpanzees were released on an island on the park border in 1985; six remained in 1995 ([[#R00035|Hoppe-Dominik 1991]], [[#R00036|Marchesi et al. 1995]]). | ||
| | | | ||
|1985 | |1985 | ||
| Line 219: | Line 219: | ||
= Challenges = | = Challenges = | ||
Economic, political, and social unrest, including the civil war (2002–2004), has been cited as an obstacle (Bitty et al., 2015). Although the ecological monitoring protocol has been established and validated its full execution has not yet been carried out (Azani Dede pers. obs. 2023). | Economic, political, and social unrest, including the civil war (2002–2004), has been cited as an obstacle ([[#R00033|Bitty et al., 2015]]). Although the ecological monitoring protocol has been established and validated its full execution has not yet been carried out (Azani Dede pers. obs. 2023). | ||
'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Azagny National Park''' | '''Table 5. Challenges reported for Azagny National Park''' | ||
| Line 240: | Line 240: | ||
|6 Safety and stability | |6 Safety and stability | ||
|6.3 Civil unrest/war | |6.3 Civil unrest/war | ||
|Bitty et al. 2015 | |[[#R00033|Bitty et al. 2015]] | ||
| | | | ||
|} | |} | ||
| Line 322: | Line 322: | ||
= Exposure to climate change impacts = | = Exposure to climate change impacts = | ||
As part of a study on the exposure of African great ape sites to climate change impacts, Kiribou et al. (2024) extracted climate data and data on projected extreme climate impact events for the site. Climatological characteristics were derived from observation-based climate data provided by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP, www.isimip.org). Parameters were calculated as the average across each 30-year period. For 1981-2010, the EWEMBI dataset from ISIMIP2a was used. For the two future periods (2021-2050 and 2071-2099) ISIMIP2b climate data based on four CMIP5 global climate models were used. For future projections, two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) were used. RCP 2.6 is a scenario with strong mitigation measures in which global temperatures would likely rise below 2C. RCP 6.0 is a scenario with medium emissions in which global temperatures would likely rise up to 3C by 2100. For the number of days with heavy precipitation events, the 98th percentile of all precipitation days (>1mm/d) was calculated for the 1979-2013 reference period as a threshold for a heavy precipitation event. Then, for each year, the number of days above that threshold was derived. The figures on temperature and precipitation anomaly show the deviation from the mean temperature and mean precipitation for the 1979-2013 reference period. | As part of a study on the exposure of African great ape sites to climate change impacts, [[#R02149|Kiribou et al. (2024)]] extracted climate data and data on projected extreme climate impact events for the site. Climatological characteristics were derived from observation-based climate data provided by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP, www.isimip.org). Parameters were calculated as the average across each 30-year period. For 1981-2010, the EWEMBI dataset from ISIMIP2a was used. For the two future periods (2021-2050 and 2071-2099) ISIMIP2b climate data based on four CMIP5 global climate models were used. For future projections, two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) were used. RCP 2.6 is a scenario with strong mitigation measures in which global temperatures would likely rise below 2C. RCP 6.0 is a scenario with medium emissions in which global temperatures would likely rise up to 3C by 2100. For the number of days with heavy precipitation events, the 98th percentile of all precipitation days (>1mm/d) was calculated for the 1979-2013 reference period as a threshold for a heavy precipitation event. Then, for each year, the number of days above that threshold was derived. The figures on temperature and precipitation anomaly show the deviation from the mean temperature and mean precipitation for the 1979-2013 reference period. | ||
The estimated exposure to future extreme climate impact events (crop failure, drought, river flood, wildfire, tropical cyclone, and heatwave) is based on a published dataset by Lange et al. 2020 derived from ISIMIP2b data. The same global climate models and RCPs as described above were used. Within each 30-year period, the number of years with an extreme event and the average proportion of the site affected were calculated (Kiribou et al. 2024). | The estimated exposure to future extreme climate impact events (crop failure, drought, river flood, wildfire, tropical cyclone, and heatwave) is based on a published dataset by Lange et al. 2020 derived from ISIMIP2b data. The same global climate models and RCPs as described above were used. Within each 30-year period, the number of years with an extreme event and the average proportion of the site affected were calculated ([[#R02149|Kiribou et al. 2024]]). | ||
'''Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Azagny National Park''' | '''Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Azagny National Park''' | ||
| Line 445: | Line 445: | ||
= References = | = References = | ||
BirdLife International. (2019). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Azagny National Park. http://www.birdlife.org < | <span id="R00032"></span>BirdLife International. (2019). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Azagny National Park. http://www.birdlife.org | ||
<span id="R00033"></span>Bitty, E. A., Bi, S. G., Bene, J. K., Kouassi, P. K., & McGraw, W. S. (2015). Cocoa Farming and Primate Extirpation Inside Cote D'ivoire's Protected Areas. ''Tropical Conservation Science'', 8(1), 95-113. [https://doi.org/10.1177/194008291500800110 doi:10.1177/194008291500800110] | |||
<span id="R00034"></span>Herbinger, I. (2007). Chimpanzee survey in Azagny National Park. Unpublished report. | |||
<span id="R00035"></span>Hoppe-Dominik, B. (1991). Distribution and status of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) on the Ivory Coast. Primate Report, 31, 45–75. | |||
<span id="R00036"></span>Marchesi, P., Marchesi, N., Fruth, B., & Boesch, C. (1995). Census and distribution of chimpanzees in Côte D’Ivoire. ''Primates'', 36(4), 591-607. [https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02382880 doi:10.1007/bf02382880] | |||
<span id="R00037"></span>Pullan, R. A. (1988). Conservation and the Development of National Parks in the Humid Tropics of Africa. ''Journal of Biogeography'', 15(1), 171. [https://doi.org/10.2307/2845058 doi:10.2307/2845058] | |||
<span id="R00038"></span>Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF). (2012). Evaluation rapide de la diversité faunique terrestre de quatre parcs nationaux en Côte d’Ivoire. Unpublished report. | |||
<span id="R02149"></span>Kiribou, R., Tehoda, P., Chukwu, O., Bempah, G., Kühl, H. S., Ferreira, J., …, & Heinicke, S. (2024). Exposure of African ape sites to climate change impacts. ''PLOS Climate'', 3(2), e0000345. [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345 doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345] | |||
'''Page created by: '''Azani Dede & APES Atlas Team''' Date:''' 2019-09-11 | '''Page created by: '''Azani Dede & APES Atlas Team''' Date:''' 2019-09-11 | ||
Latest revision as of 17:52, 15 October 2026
West Africa > Côte d'Ivoire > Azagny National Park
Français | Português | Español | Bahasa Indonesia | Melayu
Summary
- Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) are present in Azagny National Park.
- It was estimated that 47 individuals occurred in the site in 2007.
- The chimpanzee population trend is unknown.
- This site has a total size of 194 km².
- Key threats to chimpanzees are human intrusion, poaching and subsistence farming (illegal cocoa and rubber plantations).
- No conservation activities were reported for Azagny National Park.
- Only about a third of the park is presumably habitat that chimpanzees can effectively use.
Site characteristics
Azagny National Park is situated 100 km due west of Abidjan. The vegetation of the park is varied and mostly comprises swamps of various types, which cover two-thirds of the park, swamp-forest, inundated riverine forest, relatively small amounts of moist evergreen forest on areas of higher ground, and mangrove. There is also some littoral savanna woodland. Azagny was originally created a protected area in 1981 (Pullan 1988) in part for the conservation of forest elephants (Loxodonta africana) and forest buffaloes (Syncerus caffer), both of which occur in good numbers, benefiting from the protection of the swamps. Other mammals of global conservation concern include olive colobus (Procolobus verus), white-thighed colobus (Colobus vellerosus), white-naped mangabeys (Cercocebus lunulatus), Roloway’s monkeys (Cercopithecus roloway), and slender-snouted crocodiles (Crocodylus cataphractus, BirdLife International 2019).
Table 1. Basic site information for Azagny National Park
| Species | Pan troglodytes verus |
| Area | 194 km² |
| Coordinates | Lat: 5.21 , Lon: -4.88 |
| Type of site | Protected area (National Park) |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, Subtropical/tropical swamp forest, Savanna, Wetlands (lakes, rivers, streams, bogs, marshes), Marine coastal/supratidal, Urban areas, Subtropical/tropical heavily degraded former forest |
| Type of governance |
Types of sites Governance types Habitat types
Ape status
In 1988 (Hoppe-Dominik 1991) and 1989-1990 (Marchesi et al. 1995), strip transect surveys were conducted and yielded estimates of 30 and 57 individuals, respectively (whereby the 1995 estimate includes only weaned individuals). A line transect survey conducted by Herbinger (2007) recorded 88 nests on 56 km of transects surveyed. Transects of 1 km length, oriented in direction west/east, were separated from each other by 1 km in each direction and distributed systematically throughout the park. The precision of the abundance estimate of 47 weaned individuals (equivalent to 59 individuals in total using a correction factor of 0.8) was very low (CV= 52.4%), due to the fact that nests were recorded on only five out of 56 transects. Another survey was conducted in 2012 and differed in methodology in that it was a Rapid Assessment that surveyed recces of a total length of 23.5 km (WCF 2012). Recces were located in areas with a high probability of chimpanzee presence (based on previous surveys and chimpanzee habitat preferences). These methodological differences preclude the calculation of a population trend.
During Phase III of the 2019 ecological monitoring, 20 nests were recorded along 1 km line transects, but this dataset was insufficient for a reliable estimate. As an alternative, data from Phase II and Phase III were pooled, resulting in a total of 64 nests and an estimate of 72 individuals, with a confidence interval ranging from 28 to 185. This estimate was generated using the Half-Normal model in Distance 7.2 software. An average estimate of 72 weaned individuals and a density estimate of 0.01 chimpanzees/km² suggest a very small population. According to WCS (2007), 17.5% of chimpanzees in Azagny National Park do not build nests. Based on this, the total population estimate may be closer to 85 chimpanzees (Azani Dede pers. comm. 2023).
Table 2. Ape population estimates reported for Azagny National Park
| Species | Year | Occurrence | Encounter or vistation rate (nests/km; ind/day) | Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) | Abundance estimate (95% CI) | Survey area | Sampling method | Analytical framework | Source | Comments | A.P.E.S. database ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pan troglodytes verus | 2019 | 0.01 | 72 (28-185) | Azagny National Park (194 km²) | Line transects | OIPR 2019 as cited by Azani Dede pers. comm. 2023 | |||||
| Pan troglodytes verus | 2010-2013 | Present | Azagny National Park (194 km²) | Reconnaissance walk | Bitty et al. 2015 | Recconaissance walk, not recorded for sites | |||||
| Pan troglodytes verus | 2012 | 5.02 | Azagny National Park (174 km²) | Reconnaissance walk | WCF 2012 | Recconaissance walk, total survey effort: 23.5 km | CIV0035, CIV0039 CIV0042
| ||||
| Pan troglodytes verus | 2007 | 3.1 | 0.72 (0.27-1.92) | 47 (18-125) | Azagny National Park (65 km²) | Line transects | Herbinger 2007 | Total survey effort: 56 km, estimate includes only weaned individuals | CIV0001 | ||
| Pan troglodytes verus | 1989-1990 | 1.64 | 57.0 | Azagny National Park (217.4 km²) | Informed guess | Marchesi et al. 1995 | Mean density calculated for the national parks of the Guinean belt | CIV0061 | |||
| Pan troglodytes verus | 1988 | 0.15 | 30.0 | Azagny National Park (200 km²) | Interviews, Strip transect | Hoppe-Dominik 1991 | Depending on habitat, straight strip transects were 20, 40 or 100 m wide |
Sampling methods Analytical frameworks
Threats
The small population of chimpanzees in Azagny National Park is highly threatened because of habitat destruction, mainly illegal rubber and cocoa plantations, in an area that is naturally already partly unsuitable for chimpanzees due to deep swamp areas (Herbinger 2007). Bitty et al. (2015) estimated that about 40% (77.6 km2) of the natural habitat inside the park has already been converted into cocoa plantations. Moreover, high hunting pressure poses a direct threat to chimpanzee survival (Herbinger 2007, 2012, Bitty et al. 2015). Lastly, the strong and regular presence of humans within park borders due to fishing, hunting and agricultural activities exposes this small population to health risks related to human-chimpanzee disease transmission (Herbinger 2007).
Table 3. Threats to apes reported for Azagny National Park
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Agriculture & aquaculture | 2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops | High (more than 70% of population affected) | Cocoa and rubber plantations (Bitty et al. 2015). | Ongoing (2015) |
| 5 Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | High (more than 70% of population affected) | Bitty et al. 2015 | Ongoing (2015) |
| 8 Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | 8.4 Pathogens | High (more than 70% of population affected) | High risk of contracting human diseases by chimpanzees due to human intrusions (Bitty et al. 2015). | Ongoing (2015) |
Conservation activities
With the Filières Agricoles Durable de Côte d’Ivoire (FADCI) project, the Ivorian Office of Parks and Reserves (OIPR) carries out surveillance activities with the support of village auxiliaries, ecological monitoring, and awareness-raising activities around the park. The trails are maintained twice a year for eco-tourism purposes (Azani Dede pers. comm. 2023).
Table 4. Conservation activities reported for Azagny National Park
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Implementing organization(s) | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Counter-wildlife crime | 2.12 Implement community control of patrolling, banning hunting and removing snares | Ivorian Office of Parks and Reserves (OIPR) carries out surveillance activities with the support of village auxiliaries (Azani Dede pers. obs. 2023). | OIPR | Ongoing (2023) |
| 4 Education & awareness | 4.1 Educate local communities about apes and sustainable use | Awareness-raising activities around the park (in 10 villages and their camps) conducted by OIPR (Azani Dede pers. obs. 2023). | OIPR | Ongoing (2023) |
| 5 Protection & restoration | 5.2 Legally protect ape habitat | The site is designated as a national park since 1981 (BirdLife International 2019). | 1981-Ongoing (2026) | |
| 6 Species management | 6.7 Translocate (capture & release) wild apes from human impacted sites to natural habitat elsewhere | 20 Liberian chimpanzees were released on an island on the park border in 1985; six remained in 1995 (Hoppe-Dominik 1991, Marchesi et al. 1995). | 1985 | |
| 5 Protection & restoration | Other | Abandoned cocoa plantations have not been destroyed or maintained but have been left in their natural state for the animals (Azani Dede pers. obs. 2023). | Ongoing (2022) |
Challenges
Economic, political, and social unrest, including the civil war (2002–2004), has been cited as an obstacle (Bitty et al., 2015). Although the ecological monitoring protocol has been established and validated its full execution has not yet been carried out (Azani Dede pers. obs. 2023).
Table 5. Challenges reported for Azagny National Park
| Challenges | Specific challenges | Source | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Resources and capacity | 2.1 Lack of capacity/training | Protocole de suivi écologique du parc national d'Azagny | |
| 2 Resources and capacity | 2.3 General lack of funding | Protocole de suivi écologique du parc national d'Azagny | |
| 6 Safety and stability | 6.3 Civil unrest/war | Bitty et al. 2015 |
Enablers
Table 6. Enablers reported for Azagny National Park
| Enablers | Specific enablers | Source | Year(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Site management | |||
| 2 Resources and capacity | |||
| 3 Engaged community | |||
| 4 Institutional support | |||
| 5 Ecological context | |||
| 6 Safety and stability |
Research activities
Documented behaviours
Table 7. Behaviours documented for Azagny National Park
| Category | Behavior | Observation type | Prevalence | Observation dates | Source | Habituation | Species | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not reported |
Exposure to climate change impacts
As part of a study on the exposure of African great ape sites to climate change impacts, Kiribou et al. (2024) extracted climate data and data on projected extreme climate impact events for the site. Climatological characteristics were derived from observation-based climate data provided by the Inter-Sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP, www.isimip.org). Parameters were calculated as the average across each 30-year period. For 1981-2010, the EWEMBI dataset from ISIMIP2a was used. For the two future periods (2021-2050 and 2071-2099) ISIMIP2b climate data based on four CMIP5 global climate models were used. For future projections, two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) were used. RCP 2.6 is a scenario with strong mitigation measures in which global temperatures would likely rise below 2C. RCP 6.0 is a scenario with medium emissions in which global temperatures would likely rise up to 3C by 2100. For the number of days with heavy precipitation events, the 98th percentile of all precipitation days (>1mm/d) was calculated for the 1979-2013 reference period as a threshold for a heavy precipitation event. Then, for each year, the number of days above that threshold was derived. The figures on temperature and precipitation anomaly show the deviation from the mean temperature and mean precipitation for the 1979-2013 reference period.
The estimated exposure to future extreme climate impact events (crop failure, drought, river flood, wildfire, tropical cyclone, and heatwave) is based on a published dataset by Lange et al. 2020 derived from ISIMIP2b data. The same global climate models and RCPs as described above were used. Within each 30-year period, the number of years with an extreme event and the average proportion of the site affected were calculated (Kiribou et al. 2024).
Table 8. Estimated past and projected climatological characteristics in Azagny National Park
| Value | 1981-2010 | 2021-2050, RCP 2.6 | 2021-2050, RCP 6.0 | 2071-2099, RCP 2.6 | 2071-2099, RCP 6.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean temperature [C] | 27 | 28 | 27.9 | 28.1 | 29.1 |
| Annual precipitation [mm] | 1706 | 1612 | 1698 | 1643 | 1716 |
| Max no. consecutive dry days (per year) | 32.4 | 27.4 | 27.2 | 27.4 | 30.3 |
| No. days with heavy precipitation (per year) | 7 | 7 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 8.2 |
Table 9. Projected exposure of apes to extreme climate impact events in Azagny National Park
| Type | No. of years with event (2021-2050, RCP 2.6) | % of site exposed (2021-2050, RCP 2.6) | No. of years with event (2021-2050, RCP 6.0) | % of site exposed (2021-2050, RCP 6.0) | No. of years with event (2070-2099, RCP 2.6) | % of site exposed (2070-2099, RCP 2.6) | No. of years with event (2070-2099, RCP 6.0) | % of site exposed (2070-2099, RCP 6.0) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crop failure | 5 | 1.76 | 5.5 | 1.5 | 5 | 1.69 | 6.5 | 1.76 |
| Drought | 1.5 | 75 | 0.75 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 0.25 | 25 |
| Heatwave | 15.5 | 100 | 14 | 100 | 19 | 100 | 16.5 | 100 |
| River flood | 0.75 | 0.04 | 0.5 | 0.68 | 1 | 6.03 | 2 | 6.08 |
| Tropical cyclone | 0.5 | 3.05 | 0.5 | 1.26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Wildfire | 30 | 0.32 | 30 | 0.3 | 29 | 0.34 | 29 | 0.31 |
External links
References
BirdLife International. (2019). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Azagny National Park. http://www.birdlife.org
Bitty, E. A., Bi, S. G., Bene, J. K., Kouassi, P. K., & McGraw, W. S. (2015). Cocoa Farming and Primate Extirpation Inside Cote D'ivoire's Protected Areas. Tropical Conservation Science, 8(1), 95-113. doi:10.1177/194008291500800110
Herbinger, I. (2007). Chimpanzee survey in Azagny National Park. Unpublished report.
Hoppe-Dominik, B. (1991). Distribution and status of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) on the Ivory Coast. Primate Report, 31, 45–75.
Marchesi, P., Marchesi, N., Fruth, B., & Boesch, C. (1995). Census and distribution of chimpanzees in Côte D’Ivoire. Primates, 36(4), 591-607. doi:10.1007/bf02382880
Pullan, R. A. (1988). Conservation and the Development of National Parks in the Humid Tropics of Africa. Journal of Biogeography, 15(1), 171. doi:10.2307/2845058
Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF). (2012). Evaluation rapide de la diversité faunique terrestre de quatre parcs nationaux en Côte d’Ivoire. Unpublished report.
Kiribou, R., Tehoda, P., Chukwu, O., Bempah, G., Kühl, H. S., Ferreira, J., …, & Heinicke, S. (2024). Exposure of African ape sites to climate change impacts. PLOS Climate, 3(2), e0000345. doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0000345
Page created by: Azani Dede & APES Atlas Team Date: 2019-09-11