Conservation of pan troglodytes verus in west africa: local perceptions and physiological and behavioural responses of chimpanzees in the wild
- Autores: Mónica Arias Brocal
- Directores de la Tesis: Xavier Manteca Vilanova (dir. tes.), Manel López Béjar (codir. tes.)
- Lectura: En la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona ( España ) en 2018
- Idioma: español
- Tribunal Calificador de la Tesis: Jesús Fernández Morán (presid.), Hugo Fernández Bellon (secret.), Marina Salas Coscollola (voc.)
- Programa de doctorado: Programa de Doctorado en Producción Animal por la Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
- Materias:
- Enlaces
- Resumen
The general objective of this thesis was the study and evaluation of the welfare of the wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) by means of physiological and behavioural indicators and to know the local perceptions in a Reserve in the southeast of Senegal.
The majority of inhabitants in the Réserve Naturelle Communautaire of Dindéfélo are of Peul ethnicity with a subsistence economy that leads them to look for basic resources in the forest in order to survive. Humans and chimpanzees compete for basic resources such as water and trees. Three hundred thirty eight interviews were carried out the locals to know their perceptions about the conservation of chimpanzees. Local perceptions of chimpanzee conservation were influenced by educational level, training in an environmental project in the area and traditional beliefs of the ethnic group. These local perceptions allowed us to design lines of action to improve primate conservation and sustainable coexistence between humans and chimpanzees.
We also conducted a study to assess the physiological responses of chimpanzees to anthropogenic activities in the Reserve. One hundred fifty five fresh faecal samples were collected in 4 sites of the Reserve with different characteristics: human pressure, forest fires, crops and control group. There were increases in faecal cortisol concentrations associated with anthropogenic activities but also dynamics of the species itself such as mating season, agonistic interactions or food competition between groups. Concentrarion of thyroid hormone was related to the availability of food. Hormone concentrations are useful tools for assessing the welfare of endangered species.
Finally, behavioural responses of chimpanzees in a human-dominated site were studied. Dindéfélo's zoning coincides with different types of human pressure and another control zone was added, where the passage to humans was restricted. The feeding of chimpanzees decreased significantly as the number of people present increases, such as large groups of tourists. The flight of apes was greater the year they were in the zone of high anthropogenic activity but they also suffered persecutions and confrontations of 4 foreign adult males. No significant relationships were found between faecal cortisol metabolites and flight behaviours. Once again, multiple factors converge to improve the conservation of wild chimpanzees and achieve sustainable coexistence.
