Potentielles ressources alimentaires d’origine végétale des chimpanzés (Pan troglodytes verus) dans la zone forestière du Parc National du Mont Sangbé, Ouest de la cote d’ivoire

Abstract

Knowledge of the food resources consumed by an animal community in its living environment contributes enormously to the understanding of the ethology and to the conservation decision-making of this community. This study which took place in the forest zone of the Mont Sangbé National Park (PNMS) West of Côte d'Ivoire, aimed at providing the first information on the diet of chimpanzees in this park, by determining the list of potential food resources of plant origin. The methodology consisted in carrying out a bibliographical research, in carrying out surveys among neighboring populations and in carrying out pedestrian surveys in the park. At the end of the investigations, 17 species of plants were listed as being likely to be consumed by the chimpanzees of the PNMS. The main organs of the plants consumed are: fruits (59%), leaves (23%), stem pith (18%). These plants have been recorded in the center and south-east of the PNMS forest zone. This distribution of plants coincides with that of the presence indices of chimpanzees collected in the field. Although this preliminary information is very useful, it should be noted, however, that it only represents the potential food resources of chimpanzees. It would therefore be desirable to carry out work that could make it possible to observe individuals in the field in order to really know the diet of the chimpanzees in the PNMS.