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.

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Time is a limited parameter of various activities for most wild animals. The study of time budget allotment among various diurnal activities such as feeding, resting, grooming, travelling is essential for the characterization of living and working manner of a primate species, which lay the foundation for interrelating ecology and the behaviour of the species. The survey was focused on determining the activity budget of chimpanzees and their environmental needs in Mefou primate sanctuary. The research data collection was initiated after a brief pilot study of the study area and the animal group. A 4-month-data collection from April – July was carried out and was done the first 10 days of each month, from 8:00am – 6:00pm. The activities of the focal animal observed were recorded alongside the scan data obtained in a 15-minute-interval period. Additionally, observations were recorded on environmental changes. The research data was analyzed by the use of chi-square statistical model. The focal animal revealed a significant relationship on activity budget, X2 = 23.818 df=6, p=0.001. Resting (30%), movement (28%) and feeding (22%) dominated the activity budget profile, while grooming (9%), aggression (6%), play (3%) and climbing (2%) were the least activities observed. The Adult chimpanzees’ behavior showed an association on weather type, X2 = 15.801 df=3, p=0.001 and X2 = 28.975 df=18, p=0.049, respectively. Seasonality witnessed a weak association on the adult animals, X2 = 2.492 df=6, p<0.05. Also, a weak significance was recorded on social activity and seasonality, X2 = 1.379 df=6, p<0.05. This survey discovered that the activities of the adult chimpanzees witnessed alterations due to the changes of environmental conditions.

In the next decade, urban sprawl might reach such a magnitude that several natural areas surrounding cities will give way to buildings and residential areas. Although some long-term efforts to understanding wildlife dynamics in cities are under way, very little has been done in understanding the influence of urban expansion on wildlife and developing a management strategies aimed at diminishing these impacts. There is a need to study urban biodiversity and include ecological knowledge in urban planning. However, this study was focused on assessing the environmental influence on the social activity of birds in Buea university campus. The data was collected on check-sheets for a period of 2 months, 6 days a week, from 7:00am-6:00pm. The spot-count data collection method used witnessed 616 bird observations during the study. Simultaneously, data was collected on environmental condition, day-period, bird species, bird location, and bird number. The results of this study showed a significant link between bird activity and bird species, χ 2 = 171.953 df=48 P=0.000. Similarly, activity of birds showed association on bird number, χ 2 = 120.254 df=40 P=0.000. The environmental conditions associated significantly with bird number, χ 2 = 35.669 df=30, P<0.05. Also, bird species associated significantly with the dayperiod, χ 2 = 171.953 df=48, P=0.000. Additionally, environmental conditions associated with bird location, χ 2 = 7.921 df=6 P<0.05. Moreover, the environmental condition associated significantly with bird activity, χ 2 = 28.925 df=12 P=0.004. All the bird species observed during the survey displayed a significant activity state, however, species such as village weaver (Ploceus cucullatus), little weaver (Ploceus luteolus), and black-headed weaver (Ploceus melanocephalus), recorded 17.86%, 11.36%, and 7.31% respectively, and were observed with a higher activity frequency as compared to other bird species. The environmental role on wildlife species such as birds significantly determines their geographical distribution and endemism on the earth planet.

One of the most common conflicts between people and wildlife takes the form of crop-raiding, a problem that has created severe crop-yield decline in sub Saharan Africa. The main objective of this survey was to investigate the various methods used by the local farmers in Tiko farming area against weaver-bird raids. The research data was collected through the administration of 250 questionnaires to a chosen population of farmers in the study area. The results have revealed a positive significance between crop-raiding and the various methods used to control the weaver-birds pest, χ 2 =7.592, df=6, P<0.05. More so, there is a positive significance between the age-class and the various methods used to control weaver-birds' population in Tiko farmland, χ 2 =21.207, df=18, P<0.05. The study has also revealed a significance on the individuals involved in pest management χ 2 =50.115, df=24, P<0.05. In addition, the study recorded a significance between challenges faced in crop-production and pests problems, χ 2 =9.960, df=3, P<0.05. The study has shown a positive significance on the seasonal pests management cost and the period of cropraiding, χ 2 =9.454, df=6, P<0.05. This study has revealed the use of many methods by the local farmers in Tiko farming area to prevent the weaver-bird population from growing. Though, most of these methods are local and produce very little results on the fields, the farmers are yet to learn and master modern methods. The application of poisonous pesticides in fighting the weaver-bird raids in crop farmlands in Tiko as indicated by some respondents should be avoided for the welfare of the entire ecosystem.

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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