Azagny National Park

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Summary

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• 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	1989-1990			1.64	57	Azagny National Park (217.4 km²)	Informed guess		Marchesi et al. 1995	Mean density calculated for the national parks of the Guinean belt
Pan troglodytes verus	1988			0.15	30	Azagny National Park (200 km²)	Interviews, Strip transect		Hoppe-Dominik 1991	Depending on habitat, straight strip transects were 20, 40 or 100 m wide
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
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	2012		5.02			Azagny National Park (174 km²)	Reconnaissance walk		WCF 2012	Recconaissance walk, total survey effort: 23.5 km
Pan troglodytes verus	2010-2013	Present				Azagny National Park (194 km²)	Reconnaissance walk		Bitty et al. 2015	Recconaissance walk, not recorded for sites

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)

Threats

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
5 Protection & restoration	5.2 Legally protect ape habitat	The site is designated as a national park since 1981 (BirdLife International 2019).		1981-Ongoing (2025)
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)
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)

Conservation activities

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)
6 Safety and stability	6.3 Civil unrest/war	Bitty et al. 2015
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

Challenges

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

Enablers

Documented behaviours

Table 7. Behaviours documented for Azagny National Park

Category	Behavior	Observation type	Prevalence	Observation dates	Source	Habituation	Species	Comment
	Not reported

Behaviours

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. subm. 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 (see Kiribou et al. subm. for details).

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

References

BirdLife International (2019) Important Bird Areas factsheet: Azagny National Park. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 10/09/2019.
Bitty E.A., Bi S.G., Bene J-C.K., Kouassi P.K., McGraw W.S. (2015). Cocoa farming and primate extirpation inside Cote d’Ivoire’s protected areas. Tropical Conservation Science 8: 95-113.
Herbinger I. (2007). Chimpanzee Survey in Azagny National Park. Unpublished report.
Marchesi P., Marchesi N., Fruth B., & Boesch C. (1995). Census and distribution of chimpanzees in Ivory Coast. Primates 36: 591-607.
Hoppe-Dominik B. (1991). Distribution and status of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) on the Ivory Coast. Primate Report 31: 45-75.
Pullan R.A. (1988). Conservation and the Development of National Parks in the Humid Tropics of Africa. Journal of Biogeography 15: 171-183.
Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF) (2012). Evaluation Rapide de la Diversité Faunique Terrestre de Quatre Parcs Nationaux en Côte d’Ivoire. Unpublished report.

Page created by: Azani Dede & APES Atlas Team Date: 2019-09-11