MASSOH Gertruide Dalila
Assessing distribution of pangolin species in the northern part of the forest-savanna mosaic zone (Tchabal Mbabo mountain range, Adamawa, Cameroon)
Cameroon —
Pangolin (Pholidota Manidae) are a group of eight extant species distributed in tropical and subtropical Asia and in sub-Saharan Africa. They are the world’s most trafficked mammals and Cameroon was identified as one of the most trafficking countries in Africa. It is home of three pangolins species largely distributed in the southern part of the country. To date, pangolins population remains understudied in the northern part of the country. In the Adamawa Region, only indirect signs through questionnaire surveys and assumed signs on line transect have been reported. No other traceable evidence on the occurrence of pangolins and their distribution are known in the Tchabal Mbabo mountain range, which limits conservation efforts. Given the threats facing pangolins from the commercial trade, there is a need to identify all pangolin strongholds where conservation actions can be implemented to curb the population decline. This project aims to: (1) assess the past and present trends of pangolin population using Local Ecological Knowledge of local inhabitants (2) record the pangolin species occurring in the Tchabal Mbabo mountains range using camera traps; (3) develop a distribution map of the pangolin species in the study areas for a long-term monitoring system.
This award was supported by JRS Biodiversity.