Population status of olive baboon <i>Papio anubis</i> (lesson, 1827) in Kainji lake national park, Nigeria

Abstract

The study assessed the population status of Olive Baboon Papio anubis in Kainji Lake National Park, in both sectors of the park. Direct count was carried out on the line transect where activities of Olive Baboon Papio anubis was observed during reconnaissance survey. It involves counting of individual or group of individual species sighted. While the indirect method involves gathering information on current locations for primate through consultation with experience Park Rangers, hunters, farmers and community leaders, counting of animal index such as feacal droppings, foot prints, calls, and feeding remnants, within each transect. These were related to relative abundance/distribution of Primates in a particular area at a particular time. Data was collected from November, 2017-August, 2019. Data was analyzed using distance software. Student t-test was used to compare between wet and dry seasons population. The results were presented in tables. The overall Population estimation revealed Papio anubis has the highest mean abundance (19 ± 0), population density (0.042 ± 0.000) and relative abundance of (6 ± 0) at Oli range and the species was not observed in the two ranges of Zugurma sector of the park. Individuals and troops recorded during the dry seasons exceeded those of the wet seasons in all the sectors during the study. The population structures (age and sex) adult female Olive Baboon has the highest mean of individual in all seasons with (140 ± 41) the least in the troop been the Sub-adult male with (32 ±6). The Olive baboons were observed to be social and a very popular attraction for park staff that resident in the Oli camp, visitors and researches alike.

Keywords: Baboon, Population, status, age structure, sex structure