By Elias Ntungwe Ngalame
A team of
Researchers working in Cameroon have spotted another rare wildlife species the
Preuss's Monkey (Cercopithecus preussi), in the Tofala forest, Lebialem
Highlands. This was on August 18, 2013 during bio-montoring of great apes trip
with two Volunteers Christopher and Claire from United kingdom and France
respectively.
The Preuss's Monkey (Cercopithecus preussi)
according to the researchers is a white-fur moustached monkey. It was spotted
in the region while feeding in the forest. “This species has cheek pouches to
carry food while it forages and on this day, these pouches were almost full.”
Their research report said.
Preuss's Monkey (Cercopithecus preussi), also
known as Preuss's Guenon, is a diurnal primate that lives terrestrially in
mountainous forests up to 2500 metres of Eastern Nigeria, Western Cameroon and
Bioko in Equatorial Guinea. This species' population size and distribution have
been severely affected by habitat destruction and hunting. For example,
Cameroon's forests have been severely eroded by cultivation, fire and
collection of wood for fuel. As a result, little montane forest remains in the
mainland part of this species' range. This species is also highly susceptible
to human predation because it is semi-terrestrial and relatively large-bodied,
and hunting has led to a decline in its population across its range. It is
listed as Endangered given that, it is believed to have undergone a decline exceeding
50% over the past 27 years across its restricted range, mainly as a result of
increasing habitat loss in the Nigeria/ Cameroon Highlands and also from
hunting. Recognized as the most endangered guenon in the Limbe Wildlife Centre,
the preuss's monkey was formerly known to occur only in the Okwangwo Division
of Cross River National Park and on the adjacent Obudu Plateau (Nigeria), Pico
Basile National Park and the Southern Highlands Scientific Reserve (Bioko), and
in the Takamanda Forest Reserve, Ibo Forest, and Banyang-Mbo Forest (Cameroon)
which has been proposed for elevated protection status. Surveys of the status
and distribution across its range are needed. None of the montane forest areas
of the Cameroon highlands, the most important remaining habitat for this
species of which Tofala is now part, are formally protected. There is therefore
need for a strong conservation action to protect these species.
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