State of Conservation of Mammalian Wildlife in the Forests of the Tonkpi Region: The Case of the Krozialé Classified Forest, Western Côte d'Ivoire

Abstract

The Zouan-Hounien Department, located in western Côte d'Ivoire, lies within a forest zone that provides a variety of habitats for numerous wildlife species. However, data on the area's mammalian fauna remain incomplete. This study aimed to determine the diversity, distribution, and threats affecting the mammalian fauna of the Zouan-Hounien Department. Reconnaissance walks (RECCE) and ethnozoological surveys were conducted to inventory mammal species in the field. The study was conducted in four habitat types: Dense Intact Humid Forests, Dense Intact Mountain Forests, Dense Intact Dry Forests, and human-modified areas. Five mammal orders were recorded in this classified forest. Rodentia was the most abundant order (55.72%; N = 825), followed by Primates (20.33%; N = 301), Artiodactyla (10.93%; N = 162), Carnivora (8.64%; N = 128), and Hyracoidea (4.38%; N = 65). Wild mammal species diversity in this protected forest was assessed using the Shannon-Wiener index, which had a value of H = 2.82. According to the Kruskal-Wallis test, the difference in wild mammal species richness was not significant (P = 0.61 > 0.05). Field investigations showed that mammals occurred along the northern, southern, eastern, and western peripheries of the Krozialé protected forest. Human activities threatening the sustainable conservation of mammals in the Krozialé Classified Forest included agriculture, gold mining, hunting, and logging. Mineral exploration drilling occurred at a frequency of 3.71% (N = 20). According to the Kruskal-Wallis test, the difference in wild mammal species richness was not significant (P = 0.43 > 0.05).