Mammal Depletion Processes as Evidenced From Spatially Explicit and Temporal Local Ecological Knowledge

A significant decline in mammal populations, particularly red colobus, orycterope, and chimpanzee, has been observed across the Okapi Wildlife Reserve in Democratic Republic of the Congo. This depletion is largely attributed to cascading effects stemming from rebellions between 1996 and 2002. The study employs an ethnozoological approach, integrating spatially explicit and temporal local ecological knowledge, to provide a cost-effective yet reliable method for tracking population trends. Notably, while species like elephants have locally disappeared and okapi and forest buffalo persist only in the northern part of the landscape, Yangambi Reserve demonstrates post-depletion sustainability with stable populations of fast-reproducing or small-sized species. The research underscores the potential for reversing depletion processes in post-conflict contexts and highlights the utility of this methodology in other regions with significant observer activity.

van Vliet, N., Muhindo, J., Kambale Nyumu, J., Mushagalusa, O., & Nasi, R. (2018). Mammal Depletion Processes as Evidenced From Spatially Explicit and Temporal Local Ecological Knowledge. Tropical Conservation Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.1177/1940082918799494