Changes

= Summary =  <!-- An overview of the site, with a one-sentence overview of each of the following sections. can include a site map -->

= Summary =  <!-- An overview of the site, with a one-sentence overview of each of the following sections. can include a site map -->

* Western chimpanzees ([https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15935/17989872 ''Pan troglodytes verus'']) are present in Azagny National Park.  

* Western chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes verus'') are present in Azagny National Park.  

* It was estimated that 36 (CI: 13-97) weaned individuals occurred in the site in 2007.  

* It was estimated that 36 (CI: 13-97) weaned individuals occurred in the site in 2007.  

* The chimpanzee population trend is unknown.  

* The chimpanzee population trend is unknown.  

* No conservation activities were reported for Azagny National Park.

* No conservation activities were reported for Azagny National Park.

* Only about a third of the park is presumably habitat that chimpanzees can effectively use.

* Only about a third of the park is presumably habitat that chimpanzees can effectively use.

= Site characteristics = <!-- A paragraph summary of physical and geographic aspects of the site, and a table of key information -->

= Site characteristics = <!-- A paragraph summary of physical and geographic aspects of the site, and a table of key information -->

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 (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'''

'''Table 1: Basic site information for Azagny National Park'''

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="basic-information"

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="basic-information"

| Area            <!-- Please include units: km2/ha e.g 200ha    -->

| Area            <!-- Please include units: km2/ha e.g 200ha    -->

|-

|-

| Coordinates

| Coordinates

|5.21 N, -4.88 W

|5.21, -4.88

|-

|-

| Designation      <!-- National Park, Nature Reserve, etc.  -->

| Designation      <!-- National Park, Nature Reserve, etc.  -->

|Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, Subtropical/tropical swamp forest, Moist savanna, Lagoon, Mangrove submerged roots, Rural gardens, Subtropical/tropical heavily degraded former forest

|Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, Subtropical/tropical swamp forest, Moist savanna, Lagoon, Mangrove submerged roots, Rural gardens, Subtropical/tropical heavily degraded former forest

|}

|}

[http://www.unitar.org/hiroshima/sites/unitar.org.hiroshima/files/Annex%201%20-%20IUCN%20Classification%20Schemes.pdf IUCN habitat categories]   [[Site designations]]

[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/habitat-classification-scheme IUCN habitat categories] [[Site designations]]

= Ape status =  <!-- a text overview of ape status (population sizes, trends etc), followed by a table of specific surveys and results -->

= Ape status =  <!-- a text overview of ape status (population sizes, trends etc), followed by a table of specific surveys and results -->

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 (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.

 

'''Table 2. Ape population estimates in Azagny National Park'''

'''Table 2: Great ape population estimates in Azagny National Park'''

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="population-estimate-table"

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="population-estimate-table"

! Species

! Species

! Year

! Year

! Abundance estimate (95% confidence interval)

! Abundance estimate (95% CI)

! Density estimate (per km²)

! Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI)

! Encounter rate (nests/km)

! Encounter rate (nests/km)

! Area

! Area

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 (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 great apes in Azagny National Park'''

'''Table 3: Threats to great apes in Azagny National Park'''

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="threats-table"

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="threats-table"

!align="left"|Category  <!-- Do not change threat categories -->

!align="left"|Category  <!-- Do not change threat categories -->

|-

|-

|2. Agriculture & aquaculture

|2. Agriculture & aquaculture

|2.1. Annual & Perennial Non-Timber Crops

|2.1 Annual & perennial non-timber crops

|High

|High

|40% of natural forest converted to plantations (Bitty et al. 2015)

|40% of natural forest converted to plantations (Bitty et al. 2015)

|-

|-

|5. Biological resource use

|5. Biological resource use

|5.1. Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals

|5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals

|High

|High

|Poaching index of > 1 (supplementary material in Bitty et al. 2015)

|Poaching index of > 1 (supplementary material in Bitty et al. 2015)

|}

|}

[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/threat-classification-scheme IUCN Threats list]

[https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/threat-classification-scheme IUCN Threats list]

= Conservation activities =      <!-- a text overview of conservation activities, followed by a table of key activities -->

= Conservation activities =      <!-- a text overview of conservation activities, followed by a table of key activities -->

Although the site was legally protected in 1981, no additional conservation interventions have been reported for Azagny National Park.  

Although the site was legally protected in 1981, no additional conservation interventions have been reported for Azagny National Park.  

 

'''Table 4. Conservation activities in Azagny National Park'''

'''Table 4: Conservation activities in Azagny National Park'''

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="conservation-actions-table"

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="conservation-actions-table"

!align="left"|Category  <!-- Do not change threat categories -->

!align="left"|Category  <!-- Do not change threat categories -->

[[Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)]]

[[Conservation activities list (Junker et al. 2017)]]

= Impediments = <!-- Overview of impediments to ape conservation -->

= Challenges = <!-- Overview of impediments to ape conservation -->

Economic, political, and social unrest, including a civil war (2002-2004), has been cited as an impediment (Bitty et al. 2015).

Economic, political, and social unrest, including a civil war (2002-2004), has been cited as an impediment (Bitty et al. 2015).

 

'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Azagny National Park'''

'''Table 5: Impediments reported for Azagny National Park'''

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="impediments-table"

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="impediments-table"

!align="left"|Impediment <!-- Do not change categories -->

!align="left"|Challenge <!-- Do not change categories -->

!Source  <!-- source for impediment mentioned -->

!Source  <!-- source for impediment mentioned -->

|-

|-

All the above listed surveys also recorded information on human impact.

All the above listed surveys also recorded information on human impact.

===Documented behaviours===  <!-- List of any behaviours observed at the site, including citations -->

===Documented behaviours===  <!-- List of any behaviours observed at the site, including citations -->

 

'''Table 6. Great ape behaviors reported for Azagny National Park'''

'''Table 6: Great ape behaviors reported for Azagny National Park'''

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="behaviors-table"

{| border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" class="behaviors-table"

!align="left"|Behavior  <!-- Do not change categories -->

!align="left"|Behavior  <!-- Do not change categories -->

= References =

= References =

Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF) 2012. Evaluation Rapide de la Diversité Faunique Terrestre de Quatre Parcs Nationaux en Côte d’Ivoire. Unpublished report.<br>

Wild Chimpanzee Foundation (WCF) 2012. Evaluation Rapide de la Diversité Faunique Terrestre de Quatre Parcs Nationaux en Côte d’Ivoire. Unpublished report.<br>

 

'''Page completed by:''' A.P.E.S. Wiki Team '''Date:''' 11/09/2019  <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->

'''Page completed by:''' A.P.E.S. Wiki Team '''Date:''' 11/09/2019  <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->

<br><br>

<br><br>