Gorillas of Takamanda, Mone and Mbulu Forest, Cameroon
In 1998 and 1999 my field surveys conducted in the Takamanda Forest Reserve,
which covers an area of 676 km², estimated that approximately 140 weaned
gorillas inhabited the highland areas of the Takamanda Forest. However,
I found no evidence of gorillas at all (and only a few other large mammals)
in one highland area I surveyed. This was near a large village, and hunting
is a major economic activity in this area. These observations suggested
that my population estimate should be adjusted to take into account the
proximity of villages to potential gorilla habitat. Collections of skull
records indicated that it was also possible that gorillas may still exist
in the Mone River Forest Reserve (previously known as the Mawne River
Forest Reserve) which covers 538 km² and is located approximately 6 km
southeast of the Takamanda Reserve.
Initial results of a new survey confirmed the continued presence of gorillas
in 3 of the 4 highland areas surveyed in Takamanda. One highland area
surveyed, located a few hundred meters from the village of Takpe, revealed
over 30 gorilla nests grouped closely together. The highland areas around
Mende on the grassland/forest interface approximately 5 km south of the
Obudu Cattle Ranch in Nigeria, provided no evidence of gorillas.
In January 2001 areas around the village of Mbu (5°59' N, 9°31'
E) in the Mone Forest Reserve were surveyed for gorilla nests and 3 groups
of 6 nests were located approximately 8 km east of Mbu. These nests were
on relatively steep hillsides but at low altitudes. We re-visited this
area during April and were fortunate enough to encounter a small group
of gorillas; 1 adult male, 2 adult females and 1 infant. Surveys extended
northwards to the village of Tava located in the Mbulu Forest, where no
nests were found in the forest area between Tava and Bandolo. Continuing
north, additional highland areas were investigated in Mbulu and gorilla
nests were located in 2 sites between the villages of Badshama and Ashunda.
Further surveys are scheduled to take place on highland areas within Mbulu
and Mone Forest Reserve to confirm the distribution of these gorillas.
This new finding indicates that the gorilla population in this part of
Cameroon may therefore be larger than originally estimated.
In April 2000 the German Technical Cooperation, GTZ, commenced a joint
project with the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MINEF), Protection
of Forests around Akwaya (PROFA), concentrating initially on the Takamanda
Forest Reserve and surrounding areas. The project has been given an initial
3-year phase, which if successful will continue for an additional 9 years.
We are working in collaboration with GTZ and MINEF and in November 2000,
during a meeting with the Chiefs and representatives from local villages,
a traditional hunting ban on gorillas, chimps, drills and elephants was
implemented. No report of gorillas being killed has been received since
2 individuals were shot in December 1998 around Takpe and Mbu.
Jaqueline L. Groves
Jacqueline L. Groves began working with primates in 1991 with Pandrillus in Nigeria. In 1995 she returned to co-ordinate the Pandrillus' Cameroon project, the Limbe Wildlife Centre focusing on the rehabililtation of orphaned apes. From 1997 she has worked with WWF Cameroon completing a gorilla survey in the Takamanda Forest Reserve.
Jacqui Groves at a gorilla feeding site on the Basho
Hills (Takamanda Reserve)