Title
Boumba Bek National Park, Republic of Cameroon: Wildlife and Human Impact Survey 2012
Author(s)
F. Maisels; S. Strindberg; M. Bechem; J. Blanc; Y. Boafo; J. P. Mahop; A. Mengamenya; N. Barega; S. Luhunu
Published
2014
Abstract
The Boumba Bek National Park in southeastern Cameroon has long been known to have an important population of forest elephants, gorillas, chimpanzees and other forest fauna. This report details the second density estimate of the elephants and great apes of the area. Standard line transect methodology was used, with a survey effort of just under 106 kilometres (106 transects) covering the majority of the park over an area of 2079 km2. Elephant dung density (all dung including S4 & S5) was 1549 (95% c.l. 1282-1871); density of dung without S4 and S5 was 1269 (95% c.l. 1043-1544) /km2 and individual elephant density (using the dung with S4 and S5 excluded) was estimated at 0.99 (95% c.l. 0.74-1.32; CV 14.7%), translating to 2062 (95% c.l. 1545-2752) individual elephants in Boumba-Bek in 2012. We used a locally obtained dung decay rate of 67.30 (SE 7.26). When we compared elephant density between 2008 and 2012, whether including S4 and S5 dung or not, there was no significant difference between the two survey cycles. As in the previous two cycles (2004 and 2008) the majority of elephant dung was in the southwest of the Park, furthest from roads and villages. Great ape nests were divided into gorilla and chimpanzee using discriminant analysis. Overall great ape density in 2012 in the Park was 1.60 (95% c.l. 1.22-2.10; CV 13.9) individuals per km2, or a total of 3326 individuals (95% c.l. 2530-4373). Gorilla density was 1.18 (95% c.l. 0.85-1.64), and an estimated 2459 (95% c.l. 1771-3416; CV 16.6) individuals. Chimpanzee density was estimated at 0.44/ km2 (95% c.l. 0.32-0.62) and 925 individuals (95% c.l. 662-1291; CV 17.0). Human sign was evident throughout the whole of the eastern half of the Park (as before). The area to the southwest, contiguous with Nki National park, is the least affected part of Boumba Bek (reflecting, as always, the “mirror image” effect of elephant distribution and human activity). Sign on transects this year did not include elephant carcasses: the data from the recces and the patrols will be more informative on this point. Signs included snares, a hunting camp, and human trails and machete cuts, pointing to the continued use of much of the park as a hunting area. Encounter rate of human sign in 2012 was almost identical to that found in 2004.
Full Citation
Maisels, F., S. Strindberg , M. Bechem, J. Blanc, Y. Boafo, J. P. Mahop, A. Mengamenya, N. Barega and S. Luhunu (2014). Boumba Bek National Park, Republic of Cameroon: Wildlife and Human Impact Survey 2012 Nairobi, Kenya: CITES and Monitoring of Illegal Killing of Elephants.

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