Informing Protection Efforts for Critically Endangered Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) and Sympatric Mammals amidst Rapid Growth of Extractive Industries in Senegal

A comparative study of mammal species richness between Niokolo-Koba National Park (protected) and Fongoli (unprotected) in Senegal reveals that protected areas significantly enhance biodiversity, particularly for ungulates and carnivores. Despite similar primate species richness, the park's conservation efforts have likely mitigated mammal extinctions. The study highlights the critical role of flexible behavioral responses by western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) to human-driven landscape changes in their long-term survival. Given Senegal's reliance on mineral extraction for development, the research urges collaboration between primatologists and mining stakeholders to integrate sustainable practices that prioritize savannah chimpanzee behavior and ecology.

Lindshield, S., Bogart, Stephanie L., Gueye, M., Ndiaye, P., & Pruetz, Jill D. (2019). Informing Protection Efforts for Critically Endangered Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) and Sympatric Mammals amidst Rapid Growth of Extractive Industries in Senegal. Folia Primatologica, 90(2), 124–136. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1159/000496145