Title
Estimates of Ape Abundance in Kahuzi-Biega and Oku Community Reserve
Author(s)
Kirkby, A.; Plumptre, A.J.; Spira, C.; Mitamba, G.; Kivono, J.; Ngoy, E.; Nishuli, R; Maisels, F.; Buckland, S.; Kujirakwinja, D.
Published
2019
Abstract
An analysis of the status of Grauer’s gorilla (Gorilla beringei graueri) in 2016 estimated a 77% decline in the population of this ape since the mid 1990s, upgrading its status on the IUCN Redlist to critically endangered (Plumptre et al. 2016). The analysis also identified the Kahuzi-Biega National Park (KBNP) and particularly the region to the west of the park as the last major stronghold for Grauer’s gorilla. Reliable estimates of the numbers of Grauer’s gorilla and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) were not possible in this region at the time because of insecurity, although line transects had been undertaken in some sectors of the KBNP.
This report pulls together the results of line transect surveys totalling 691,2 km across the KBNP and proposed Oku Community Reserve (OCR), the most extensive transect survey ever made in this region. We provide estimates the abundance of Grauer’s gorillas and chimpanzees, as well as summarise the relative abundance of other species of large mammal.
Keywords
Grauer's gorilla; Gorilla beringei graueri; Kahuzi-Biega National Park; chimpanzee; Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii; transect survey; Oku Community Reserve
Full Citation
Plumptre, A.J., Kirkby, A., Spira, C., Mitamba, G., Kivono, J., Ngoy, E., Nishuli, R., F. Maisels, S. Buckland & Kujirakwinja, D. (2019). Estimates of ape abundance in the Kahuzi Biega National Park and the Oku Community Reserve. Unpublished report to Arcus Foundation, GFA, USAID and US Fish and Wildlife Service.
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