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Impact of Hunting on the Lesula Monkey (Cercopithecus lomamiensis) in the Lomami River Basin, Democratic Republic of the Congo

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Abstract

Understanding the impact of hunting on wildlife is necessary to protect biodiversity in remote, endangered ecosystems, where rural communities depend on bushmeat as sources of food and income. Unsustainable hunting has led to a major decline in mammal population densities across Africa, especially for ungulates and primates. The objectives of this study were to (1) quantify the impact of hunting on lesula (Cercopithecus lomamiensis), a semiterrestrial and poorly known monkey in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and (2) assess the species’ relative abundance in the context of its behavioral ecology and local hunting practices. We compared the relative abundance of lesula to prey species preferred by hunters using data collected from camera trap surveys (5,960 days) and primate vocalization surveys (n = 174) and assessed species-specific hunting pressure in the buffer zone using data collected from surveillance patrols (2,255 km), hunter follows (n = 16), and semistructured interviews (n = 21). We found that the abundance of terrestrial mammal and primate species was negatively impacted by hunting in the buffer zone, but the abundance of lesula appeared relatively similar throughout its range. Our results suggest that the relative tolerance of lesula in the buffer zone was associated with its ecological niche and the specific behavior of local hunters. Lesula is a threatened, endemic monkey of the Congo Basin rainforest, and this study provides data to enable its continuous monitoring and long-term population management. Some primate populations, such as lesula, may be able to persist under specific conditions despite being subject to high hunting pressure.

Abstract in French

Comprendre l'impact de la chasse sur la faune est nécessaire pour protéger la biodiversité dans les écosystèmes éloignés et menacés, où les communautés rurales dépendent de la viande de brousse comme source de nourriture et de revenus. La chasse non durable a entraîné une baisse importante des densités de population de mammifères à travers l'Afrique, en particulier pour les ongulés et les primates. Les objectifs de cette étude étaient (1) de quantifier l'impact de la chasse sur lesula (Cercopithecus lomamiensis), un singe semi-terrestre et mal connu en République Démocratique du Congo, et (2) d'évaluer l’abondance relative de cette population dans le contexte de son écologie comportementale et des pratiques de chasse locales. Nous avons comparé l'abondance relative de lesula aux espèces de gibiers préférées des chasseurs à l'aide de données recueillies à partir de pièges photographiques (5960 jours) et d'enquêtes sur la vocalisation des primates (n = 174) et avons évalué la pression de chasse dans la zone tampon à l'aide de données recueillies à partir de patrouilles de surveillance (2255 km), de suivis de chasseurs (n = 16) et d'entretiens semi-structurés (n = 21). Nous avons constaté que l'abondance des espèces de mammifères terrestres et singes étaient négativement affectée par la chasse dans la zone tampon mais que l'abondance de lesula semble être similaire dans toute son aire de distribution. Nos résultats suggèrent que la tolérance relative de lesula à la chasse dans la zone tampon était associée à sa niche écologique et au comportement spécifique des chasseurs locaux. Lesula est un singe menacé et endémique de la forêt tropicale du bassin du Congo, et cette étude fournit des données pour permettre la surveillance continue et la gestion à long terme de la population. Certaines populations de primates, telles que lesula, peuvent persister dans des conditions spécifiques malgré une forte pression de chasse. *The translated abstract was not copy-edited by Springer Nature.

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Data Availability

The datasets analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author, Dr. Kate Detwiler, upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We dedicate this manuscript to Pablo Ayali (1981-2018) for his commitment to the Lesula monkey project and the conservation of the Lomami National Park. This research is authorized by the collaboration agreement between ICCN and FZS. Our sincere thanks go to all village level authorities and hunters who were willing to participate in the study. We thank the FAU Primatology Lab members: Daniel Alempijevic, Aaron Mencia, and all members of the camera trap team (FAU undergraduate students and volunteers). We are also grateful for all the field assistants and field researchers throughout the years. We thank Dr. Michael J. Lawes for helpful comments on an earlier draft. We thank Professor Jo Setchell and two anonymous reviewers for their comments and feedback on the manuscript.

Field work was funded by Lukuru Wildlife Research Foundation, Frankfurt Zoological Society, Primate Conservation Inc., Idea Wild, FAU Anthropology Department, and Indiegogo Crowdfunding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA

    Charlene S. Fournier, Erik G. Noonburg & Kate M. Detwiler

  2. Forest & Nature Conservation Policy Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands

    Maximilian Graefen & Verina Ingram

  3. Department of Anthropology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA

    Steven McPhee, Junior Amboko & Kate M. Detwiler

  4. Frankfurt Zoological Society, Tshuapa-Lomami-Lualaba (TL2) Project, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Junior Amboko & Terese B. Hart

  5. Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN), Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

    John A. Hart

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  1. Charlene S. Fournier
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Fournier, C.S., Graefen, M., McPhee, S. et al. Impact of Hunting on the Lesula Monkey (Cercopithecus lomamiensis) in the Lomami River Basin, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Int J Primatol 44, 282–306 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-022-00337-4

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