Population and conservation status of endangered ashy red Colobus in Ufipa plateau: updates 10 years after first report
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Date
2021
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Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation
Abstract
For centuries, forests in Africa have been
converted into farm lands and human
settlements leading into habitat loss for forest
dwelling mammals especially primates. Last
century witnessed an extensive decline of
primate populations worldwide mostly
through habitat destruction. Here we present
findings on the current population and
conservation status of Ashy Red Colobus
monkeys in Ufipa Plateau, southwestern
Tanzania after ten years of first report. Using
complete animal count and plotless visual
assessment, we conducted surveys in each
forest assessing for presence or absence of
ashy red colobus in these forests and quality
of their habitats. There was much
disturbance in unprotected Mbuzi forest,
reducing the once continuous forest into
forest fragments and patches with no
primates. In Mbizi, forest has been converted
into commercial forest of exotic pine trees
leaving remnants of natural forests as habitat
for primates. A population size of 528
individual Ashy red Colobus were counted in
Mbizi forest, indicating about 56% decline in
population size, and mean group size of 26.4
indicate a 35% decline in 10 years. These
findings highlight threats to Mbizi
population and envisage local extinction of
Mbuzi population and recommend for urgent
conservation interventions in the area.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Ashy Red Colobus, Ufipa Plateau, Conservation status, Mbizi forest, Mbuzi forest