One of the major impediments to studying wild pangolins has been the diffi culty in locating them. In many areas where biodiversity surveys have been conducted, no pangolins were recorded, despite extensive nocturnal searches. The main objective of this survey was to assess the role of ecological factors on the distribution of pangolins in deng-deng national park. The research data collection method used for this study constituted the laying of fi fteen 2-kilometre transects in the study area. The collection of relevant data such as pangolin feeding-material signs, burrows, trails, foot-prints together with ecological parameters such as vegetation type, weather conditions, landscape and forest canopy type. The survey revealed that weather conditions and Pangolin-sign encounter rate were signifi cant, χ 2 = 6.125df=9 P<0.05. Moreover, a signifi cant association was found between canopy-types and the animal species encounter rate, χ 2 = 27.006 df=8 P<0.05. There was also a signifi cant link between the age of pangolin-sign and the forest-type, χ 2 = 29.995 df=30 P<0.05. The recent pangolin-sign recorded the highest encounter rate frequency 42.67%, while the fresh-signs encounter rate recorded 34.67% in the survey. The gentle and steep slopes both recorded an animal occurrence frequency of 41.3%, as compared to the very steep slope landscape 17.3%. This study has revealed that the pangolin species in deng-deng national park have an ecological distribution infl uence. Hence, the protection of these pangolin species would be much enhanced by the proper conservation and national park management strategies put in place by the Cameroon government.

Anthropogenic disturbance is known to affect the diversity and abundance of primates in the world. Many studies on primates in Cameroon have focused on forest ecosystems, with little knowledge on primate species in the degraded woodland and grasslands which inhabit a great number of primates. This study investigates the relationship between primate distribution and habitat parameters in the heavily human occupied landscape of Kimbi Fungom National Park (KFNP). Primate data were obtained through the use of line transects, and interview. A total of twenty 3-kilometre transects were laid in the national park area. In addition, assessment of ecological factors such as forest fragment size, habitat types, and habitat structure (canopy height) was carried out. Data analysis was run using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Ecological variables were analysis by chi-square (χ2), to assess the impact of habitat parameters on primate’s diversity. The study observed 6 primate species in the national park area; chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes ellioti), Olive baboons (Papio anubis), Patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas), Mona monkeys (Cercopithecus mona), Putty-nosed monkey (Cercopithecus nictitans) and Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) with low densities. Baboons were the most numerous species while putty-nosed monkey was the most frequently encountered. However, three ecological factors were found to significantly affect the distribution of primates; habitat types (χ2= 3.069, df=1, p= .048), habitat structure (χ2=4.992, df=1 p=0.025) and landscape (χ2=8.225, df=1, p=.004). Detections of patas monkeys and baboons were higher in areas with low forest strata, having mainly grassland and woody savanna ecosystem. This study recommends the need for sustainable agricultural practices, control grazing, selective logging and continuous education of local population on primate conservation.

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