Ngotto Forest
Summary
- Central chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) are present in Ngotto Forest.
- The population size is unknown.
- The population trend is unknown.
- The site has a total size of 87 km².
- Key threats to chimpanzees are hunting and logging.
- Conservation activities are not documented.
Site characteristics
Located at the northern edge of the great Congo Forest Basin, Ngotto is of particular interest, as it intersects with the northern savannah ecosystem. Until recently it has remained one of the last large tracts of natural forest in the southwest Central African Republic (Hicks et al. 2009).
Table 1. Basic site information for Ngotto Forest
| Area | 87 km² |
| Coordinates | 3.889943 N, 17.315173 E |
| Designation | Unclassified |
| Habitat types | Subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest, subtropical/tropical dry forest |
Ape status
A total of 0.32 great ape nests per kilometer were found in the logged section of the forest, compared with 3.52 nests per kilometer in the immediately adjacent unlogged but transected forest, 11 times the difference (Hicks et al. 2009).
Table 2. Ape population estimates in Ngotto Forest
| Species | Year | Abundance estimate (95% CI) | Density estimate [ind./ km²] (95% CI) | Encounter rate (nests/km) | Area | Method | Source | Comments | A.P.E.S. database ID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pan troglodytes troglodytes | 2001-2002 | 0.40 | Ngotto Forest | Line transects (Distance) | Hicks et al. 2009 | ||||
| Gorilla gorilla gorilla | 2001-2002 | 0.49 | Ngotto Forest | Line transects (Distance) | Hicks et al. 2009 |
Threats
The timber company Industrie Forestiére du Batalimo (IFB) has been selectively exploiting the Ngotto Forest, concession PEA 169, since the late 90s. Surveyors for the logging company lived for weeks in the forest in makeshift camps. Hunters associated with the logging company regularly hunted using wire snares, shotguns, and flashlights for night hunting.T. C. Hicks observed logging trucks on nearby roads transporting large sacks of bushmeat, likely destined for sale in urban areas (Hicks et al. 2009).
Table 3. Threats to apes in Ngotto Forest
| Category | Specific threats | Threat level | Quantified severity | Description | Year of threat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | Unknown | ||||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | Unknown | ||||
| 3. Energy production & mining | Unknown | ||||
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | Unknown | ||||
| 5. Biological resource use | 5.1 Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | High | Bushmeat hunting linked to the presence of loggers (Hicks et al. 2009). | Ongoing (2009) | |
| 5.3 Logging & wood harvesting | High | Parts of the forest are, or have been, logging concessions (Hicks et al. 2009). | Ongoing (2009) | ||
| 6. Human intrusion & disturbance | Unknown | ||||
| 7. Natural system modifications | Unknown | ||||
| 8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases | Unknown | ||||
| 9. Pollution | Unknown | ||||
| 10. Geological Events | Absent | ||||
| 11. Climate change & severe weather | Unknown | ||||
| 12. Other options | Absent |
Conservation activities
Table 4. Conservation activities in Ngotto Forest
| Category | Specific activity | Description | Year of activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Residential & commercial development | Not reported | ||
| 2. Agriculture & aquaculture | Not reported | ||
| 3. Energy production & mining | Not reported | ||
| 4. Transportation & service corridors | Not reported | ||
| 5. Biological resource use | Not reported | ||
| 6. Human intrusion & disturbance | Not reported | ||
| 7. Natural system modifications | Not reported | ||
| 8. Invasive & other problematic species, genes, diseases | Not reported | ||
| 9. Pollution | Not reported | ||
| 10. Education & Awareness | Not reported | ||
| 11. Habitat Protection | Not reported | ||
| 12. Species Management | Not reported | ||
| 13. Livelihood; Economic & Other Incentives | Not reported |
Challenges
Table 5. Challenges reported for Ngotto Forest
| Challenge | Source |
|---|---|
| Lack of law enforcement | Hicks et al. 2009 |
Research activities
Documented behaviours
Table 6. Ape behaviors reported for Ngotto Forest
| Behavior | Source |
|---|---|
| Ant dipping | Hicks, Fouts & Fouts 2005 |
| Honey extraction with tools | Hicks, Fouts & Fouts 2005 |
External links
Relevant datasets
References
Hicks, T.C., Fouts, R.S. & Fouts, D.H.(2009). A Survey of Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) and Gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in the Selectively Logged Ngotto Forest, Central African Republic. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science,12(3),165-188.
Hicks, T.C., Fouts R.S. & Fouts, D.H. (2005). Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) Tool Use in the Ngotto Forest, Central African Republic. American Journal of Primatology 65, 221-237.
Page completed by: A.P.E.S. Wiki team Date: 08/01/2021