Глобальный журнал биологии, сельского хозяйства и медицинских наук

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CURRENT CONSERVATION STATUS OF LARGE MAMMALS IN SIME DARBY OIL PALM CONCESSION IN LIBERIA

Jean-Claude Koffi BENE, Eloi Anderson BITTY, Kouakou Hilaire BOHOUSSOU, Michael ABEDILARTEY , Joel GAMYS & Prince A. J. SORIBAH

The forest ecosystem of Liberia is part from the Upper Guinea Eco-region, and harbors an exceptional biodiversity in a rich mosaic of habitats serving as refuge for numerous endemic species. Unfortunately, many of these forests have been lost rapidly over the past decades, and the remaining are under various forms of anthropogenic pressure, subsistence farming, and large-scale industrial agriculture and mining. As part of a broader survey to generate information for conservation management strategies in the Gross Concession Area in preparation for its oil palm and rubber plantations in western Liberia, Sime Darby (Liberia) Inc., commissioned surveys on large mammals species in 2011. Through a combination of hunter interviews and foot surveys, we documented evidence of 46 and 32, respectively, of large mammals in the area. Fourteen of the confirmed species are fully protected at national level and three are partially protected. At the international level, 15 species are of conservation concern, including Zebra and Jentink’s duiker, Diana monkey, Sooty mangabey, Olive colobus, Elephant and Leopard.