Camera trap survey of mammals in the Fazao‐Malfakassa National Park, Togo, West Africa

Abstract

For the first time in Togo, we used camera trapping to investigate the mammal community in Fazao‐Malfakassa National Park (FMNP), a forest and savannah mosaic landscape subject to poaching and other detrimental anthropogenic activity. We compiled a species inventory, that is species occurrence, habitat use and activity patterns during dry and wet seasons. Based on images from >80 locations during 9,007 camera days, we identified 32 mammal species, which, when combined with other published studies, increases the total number of mammals (excluding bats) historically reported to 57 species. Our results confirm the presence of five mammal species evaluated as threatened according to the IUCN Red List, highlighting the significant conservation value of the FMNP. Specifically, it appears to be the only protected area in Togo where the African savannah elephant and the African forest elephant occur sympatrically, and only the second site currently known with direct observations of Walter's duiker. We also report the presence of poachers and other anthropogenic activity within the FMNP. We recommend that continued survey efforts should be combined with detailed ecological data collection, effective law enforcement, community outreach and eco‐tourism development, to safeguard the remaining mammal species communities necessary for a functioning ecosystem in the park.

Wild meat hunting levels and trade in a West African protected area in Togo

“…Our study is the first to attempt to assess the levels of hunting of wildlife that occur within a sample of villages around the park. We recorded as many as 33 animal species hunted and sold, of which 26 were mammals, almost all the mammal species reported by Assou et al (2021). Biomass extracted was greater for the larger species, as expected, even though actual numbers hunted were less than for smaller species.…”

“…The FMNP was created in 1975 by combining the Fazao Forest Reserve (1620 km 2 ) and the Malfakassa Forest Reserve (300 km 2 ). It was first managed by Togo Ministry for the Environment and Forest Resources (MERF), by the Swiss Franz Weber Foundation from 1990 to 2015, and since 2015 again by the MERF (Assou et al, 2021; Atsri et al, 2018). It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tentative List in 2012 (UNESCO, 2021) in the mixed (cultural + natural) category.…”

“…Historically, as many as 57 mammal species (excluding bats) were historically recorded in the FMNP (Assou et al, 2021). Recent observations, including camera trapping by field staff, confirm 33 species present including five previously unreported (Assou et al, 2021; Segniagbeto et al, 2020).…”

“…In this study, we assessed hunting and sale of wildlife for their meat in a sample of park-adjacent villages around the FMNP. The area is currently affected by illegal activities such as hunting, cattle grazing, timber exploitation, bush fires and agricultural encroachment (Assou et al, 2021;Atsri et al, 2018Atsri et al, , 2020Segniagbeto et al, 2017). Using semi-structured interviews applied to 185 hunters in 12 park-adjacent villages, we documented the species hunted as well as numbers hunted and traded.…”

“…Hunting, mostly targeting mammals, especially ungulates, has been reported in undisturbed and degraded areas of the FMNP buffer zone (Atsri et al, 2020), and illegal offtake of animals for wild meat, traditional medicine and the international exotic pet trade occurs within the boundaries of the park (Segniagbeto et al, 2020). Camera trap studies by Assou et al (2021) in the FMNP captured images of poachers, local community members, domesticated dogs and cattle within the boundaries of the park. However, direct assessment of the levels of wildlife extraction within the FMNP has not been undertaken.…”