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Abondance_distribution_buffles_PNComoA.pdfFile Type
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934 kBCreated Date
2022 Apr 22Updated Date
2022 Apr 22Published on
2022 Apr 22Countries
Côte d'Ivoire
Abundance and distribution of Syncerus caffer (Sparrman, 1779) buffalo in Comoé National Park, North-East Ivory Coast
The Comoé National Park (PNC) in Côte d'Ivoire is home to significant biological diversity and is one of the priority areas of the network of protected areas in West Africa. Many wildlife species are threatened by intensive poaching. The African buffalo Syncerus caffer is no exception to this anthropogenic pressure and despite its fundamental importance in the balance of the PNC's Sudanian savanna ecosystems, the information available on the latter is still very fragmented. A study on their abundance and distribution was conducted from January 2018 to September 2019. The linear transect method has improved knowledge about buffaloes in this park. A total of 41 transects of 10 km each were established and covered from May to June 2018 and from February to March 2019. Each transect was completed once per season. The results of the study confirm the presence of buffalo in the PNC. The count of individuals through the monitoring of buffalo droppings, gives densities of 37.89 droppings/km² in the rainy season and 28.165 droppings/km ² in the dry season. These figures make it possible to estimate the density of buffalo at 0.2 individuals/km² and a population of 2306 individuals in the rainy season against 0.15 individuals/km² and a population of 1715 individuals in the dry season. Buffaloes are mainly located in the Central and Western part of the study area during the rainy season. On the other hand, they are concentrated in the Central, North and South parts of the park during the dry season. According to the observations made, gold panning and poaching are the most practiced human activities in the park, especially in its northern and south-eastern parts. The valorization of the results of this study by strengthening regular monitoring every six months is necessary to improve the evolution of demographic trends in the populations of buffalo in the park.