Changes

<div style="float: right">

<div style="float: right">

{{#display_map: height=200px | width=300px | scrollzoom=off | zoom=5 | layers= OpenStreetMap, OpenTopoMap

{{#display_map: height=200px | width=300px | scrollzoom=off | zoom=5 | layers= OpenStreetMap, OpenTopoMap

|5.669169, 9.961824~[[Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary]]~Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees & cross river gorillas

|5.662902, 9.908394~[[Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary]]~Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees & cross river gorillas

}}

}}

</div>

</div>

* Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes ellioti'') & Cross river gorillas (''Gorilla gorilla diehli'') are present in Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary.

* Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzees (''Pan troglodytes ellioti'') & Cross river gorillas (''Gorilla gorilla diehli'') are present in Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary.

* It has been estimated that only 2-4 gorillas and at least 20 chimpanzees inhabit the site.

* It has been estimated that only 2-4 gorillas and at least 200 chimpanzees inhabit the site.

* The gorilla population trend is decreasing; the chimpanzee population trend is increasing.

* The gorilla population trend is decreasing; the chimpanzee population trend is increasing.

* The site has a total size of 80.87 km².

* The site has a total size of 80.87 km².

|-

|-

|Coordinates

|Coordinates

|5.669169, 9.961824

|5.662902, 9.908394

|-

|-

|Designation

|Designation

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

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

{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VNYuUaWnPo|alignment=right|}}

{{#ev:youtube|https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VNYuUaWnPo|330x220|inline}}

Ornithologists discovered the population of Cross River gorillas at the site in 2004. At the time, it was estimated that between 20 and 30 individuals were living in the sanctuary. Among the 14 Cross River gorilla subpopulations, the Tofala population is the only one about which no scientific data have been available, and the anthropogenic pressure exerted upon the gorillas living in the examined area is very high because there are ten villages adjacent to the area. Based on surveys conducted in 2014, 2015 and 2016, gorillas avoid the southern part of the reserve, since there is not much forest left; also the northern area of the sanctuary showed no signs of gorillas. All signs of gorillas were found in the central part of the sanctuary, in an area of 6.5 km² (Linnarz 2017).

Ornithologists discovered the population of Cross River gorillas at the site in 2004. At the time, it was estimated that between 20 and 30 individuals were living in the sanctuary. Among the 14 Cross River gorilla subpopulations, the Tofala population is the only one about which no scientific data have been available, and the anthropogenic pressure exerted upon the gorillas living in the examined area is very high because there are ten villages adjacent to the area. Based on surveys conducted in 2014, 2015 and 2016, gorillas avoid the southern part of the reserve, since there is not much forest left; also the northern area of the sanctuary showed no signs of gorillas. All signs of gorillas were found in the central part of the sanctuary, in an area of 6.5 km² (Linnarz 2017).

A three-month camera trap survey was conducted from January to April 2016 to calculate the population size and density of gorillas at the site. No gorilla was recorded while the cameras were in the field for 76 days. Using the program "Presence", a population size of only two to four gorillas  was estimated, and a density of 0.03 gorillas per km². The estimates seem to be realistic because the maximum nest group size was three nests and because no camera trap was able to picture a gorilla during the survey period. There have been three very short direct observations of gorillas by the guides and volunteers in 2014 and 2015; they saw one or two gorillas at these sightings (Linnarz 2017).

A three-month camera trap survey was conducted from January to April 2016 to calculate the population size and density of gorillas at the site. No gorilla was recorded while the cameras were in the field for 76 days. Using the program "Presence", a population size of only two to four gorillas  was estimated, and a density of 0.03 gorillas per km². The estimates seem to be realistic because the maximum nest group size was three nests and because no camera trap was able to picture a gorilla during the survey period. There have been three very short direct observations of gorillas by the guides and volunteers in 2014 and 2015; they saw one or two gorillas at these sightings (Linnarz 2017).

|Line transects (Distance) and reconnaissance walks

|Line transects (Distance) and reconnaissance walks

|Njukang et al. 2019

|Njukang et al. 2019

|Survey effort 47 km. 66 arboreal nests and 21 ground nests in the sampled area. 16 nest sites recorded.

|Survey effort 47 km. 66 arboreal nests and 21 ground nests in the sampled area. 16 nest sites recorded. Direct observation of 6 chimpanzees.

|

|

|-

|-

|Logging in the low altitude areas of the sanctuary, avoided by gorillas (Njukang et al. 2019).

|Logging in the low altitude areas of the sanctuary, avoided by gorillas (Njukang et al. 2019).

|Ongoing (2019)

|Ongoing (2019)

|-

|-

|6. Human intrusion & disturbance

|6. Human intrusion & disturbance

|-

|-

|10. Education & Awareness  

|10. Education & Awareness  

|Not reported

|10.1. Educate local communities about primates and sustainable use

|

|Education and awareness raising through group discussions and questionnaires (Akongte, P. pers. comm. 2023).

|

|2018-2019

|-

|-

|11. Habitat Protection

|11. Habitat Protection

= Challenges = <!-- Overview of challenges in ape conservation -->

= Challenges = <!-- Overview of challenges in ape conservation -->

'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary'''

'''Table 5. Challenges reported for Tofala Hill Wildlife Sanctuary'''

|Lack of law enforcement

|Lack of law enforcement

|Linnarz 2017

|Linnarz 2017

|-

|-

|}

|}

= Research activities = <!-- Overview of research activities -->

= Research activities = <!-- Overview of research activities -->

The local NGO ERuDeF (Environmental and Rural Development Foundation) has been responsible for the research in the area since 2004 (Linnarz 2017). Surveys between 2014-2016 found that different factors affect the nest site choice of gorillas. Gorillas preferred to build their nests on steep slopes, with an angle of more than 45°. 74 % (22 nests) were built on steep slopes, 23 % (7 nests) were found at moderate slopes (25-45°) and only one nest was made in a flat area (3 %). Steep slopes protect the gorillas from getting surprised by poachers, who mostly hunt during the night. The diet of gorillas at the site consists of terrestrial herbaceous plants (61.5 % of all feeding signs); fruits constituted 22.5 %, and leaves were consumed in 16 % of all feeding cases (Linnarz 2017).

The local NGO ERuDeF (Environmental and Rural Development Foundation) and Dschang University conduct research in the area. Surveys between 2014-2016 found that different factors affect the nest site choice of gorillas. Gorillas preferred to build their nests on steep slopes, with an angle of more than 45°. 74 % (22 nests) were built on steep slopes, 23 % (7 nests) were found at moderate slopes (25-45°) and only one nest was made in a flat area (3 %). Steep slopes protect the gorillas from getting surprised by poachers, who mostly hunt during the night. The diet of gorillas at the site consists of terrestrial herbaceous plants (61.5 % of all feeding signs); fruits constituted 22.5 %, and leaves were consumed in 16 % of all feeding cases (Linnarz 2017).

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

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

<br>

<br>

'''Page completed by: '''A.P.E.S. Wiki team''' Date:''' 19/05/2023 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->

'''Page completed by: '''Peter Akongte''' Date:''' 19/06/2023 <!-- If you don't want to add your name, you can add "A.P.E.S. Wiki team" -->