Abstract:
The red-bellied monkey Cercopithecus erythrogaster erythrogaster is a subspecies of endemic
primate of the Dahomey Gap. It is locally named Zinkaka. The prospection in the 180 selected
localities susceptible for shelter the monkey with red belly and the follow-up of the species in
some habitats made it possible to know the ecology and the behavior of this primate. On the
whole, 579 primates species observation were done. This species occurred in wetlands in three
types of habitat which were: dense forests, gallery forests and in floodplains embraced the
phytogeographical districts of southern Benin. The Lama Reserve forest in Southern Benin
remained the largest habitat of the species with an estimated population of about 1300
individuals.
The Oueme valley sheltered small populations of individuals in fragmented habitats of Togbota.
The availability of food resources came from natural resources and agricultural crops nearby the
species habitats. The red-bellied monkey partnered with other primate species such as the mona
monkey in dense habitats including the Lama Reserve Forest and the Lokoli swamp forest. The
eco-ethologic determinants for the durable conservation of Zinkaka in the South of Benin are the
type of habitat, the wetlands, the abiotic factors (precipitation, relative humidity…), sociability,
the food behavior and the spatiotemporel distribution With its small population, it is noted a
drastic reduction of its area of occurrence (76 %) and it habitat fragmentation, especially in the
Oueme valley. Being a species threatened of the Dahomey Gap, it is thus urgent that
measurements adequate and appropriate essential to the conservation of Zinkaka in Benin. |
