Differential utilization of cashew—a low-conflict crop—by sympatric humans and chimpanzees

Abstract

Modification of natural areas by human activities mostly has a negative impact on wildlife by increasing the geographical and ecological overlap between people and animals. This can result in escalating levels of competition and conflict between humans and wildlife, for example over crops. However, data on specific crops and crop parts that are unattractive to wildlife yet important for human livelihoods are surprisingly scarce, especially considering their potential application to reducing crop damage by wildlife. Here we examine the co-utilization of a nationally important and spatially abundant cash crop, cashew Anacardium occidentalis, by people and chimpanzees Pan troglodytes verus inhabiting a forested-agricultural matrix in Cantanhez National Park in Guinea-Bissau. In this Park people predominantly harvest the marketable cashew nut and discard the unprofitable fruit whereas chimpanzees only consume the fruit. Local farmers generally perceive a benefit of raiding by chimpanzees as they reportedly pile the nuts, making harvesting easier. By ensuring that conflict levels over crops, especially those with high economic importance, remain low, the costs of living in proximity to wildlife can potentially be reduced. Despite high levels of deforestation associated with cashew farming, these findings point to the importance of cashew as a low-conflict crop in this area.

Cashew cultivation in Guinea-Bissau – risks and challenges of the success of a cash crop

“…Co-utilization without conflict by people and chimpanzees of the cashew nuts and false fruits, respectively, was also reported in the area of Cantanhez National Park, Tombali region (Hockings and Sousa, 2012). On the other hand, the demand on services provided by the natural ecosystems (e.g.…”

Hominids adapted to metabolize ethanol long before human-directed fermentation

“…Early Miocene (17-22 Ma) hominoids, such as Proconsul (41), and several hominoids of the middle Miocene, including Nacholapithecus, were also arboreal frugivores (42)(43)(44)(45). Although modern humans, chimpanzees, and gorillas have maintained a frugivorous diet, they have since evolved terrestrial locomotor adaptations and (at least occasionally) consume food collected from the ground (46,47). Indicators of knuckle-walking in the fossils of Kenyapithecus provide evidence of semiterrestriality in hominoids as early as 14-16 Ma (48-50).…”

Política de chimpanzés: algumas reflexões pessoais sobre conservação de primatas in situ em África

“…Yet, if you believe that biodiversity conservation not only concerns personal moral or aesthetic visions, but also the welfare and future well-being of humanity (Papa Francesco 2015), such initiatives must be attempted even in the poorest countries in the world. In the specific case of Guinea-Bissau, we find a general attitude which is favourable to chimpanzees (Gippoliti and Dell'Omo 1996;Gippoliti, Embalo and Sousa 2003;Sousa and Frazão-Moreira 2010;Hockings and Sousa 2012). For conservation to have the best chance of success, it is beneficial to work with local arguments and beliefs that are strongly imbedded in the local culture rather than attempting to force foreign conservation ethics.…”