Niokolo-Koba National Park

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Niokolo-Koba National Park from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• First insights into the spatio-temporal ecology of sympatric large carnivores in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal

  A camera-trap survey in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal, revealed critical insights into the spatio-temporal ecology of four sympatric large carnivores: spotted hyaenas, leopards, West African lions, and African wild dogs. Spotted hyaenas and leopards exhibited the widest spatial distribution and highest site use probability, with their activity influenced by factors such as leopard abundance, vegetation index, and proximity to roads or rivers. Lions showed a strong preference for areas closer to the Gambian River, while African wild dog site use was negatively affected by lion and leopard presence. The study also found significant overlap in activity patterns among lions, hyaenas, and leopards. These findings provide essential data for conservation planning, guiding ranger patrols and future research efforts to protect these threatened species in West Africa.

  Horion, R., Woodgate, Z., & Drouilly, M. (2024). First insights into the spatio-temporal ecology of sympatric large carnivores in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal. Oryx, 58(5), 664–675. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605323001746

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• Savannah chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) nesting behavior in the unprotected area of Tikankali near to a mining exploitation and the Niokolo Koba National Park in Senegal

  A study of West African chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in the anthropized habitats around Tikankali, Senegal, reveals distinct nesting behavior patterns influenced by proximity to gold mining and Niokolo-Koba National Park. Researchers recorded 213 nests across two surveys, finding a strong preference for Pterocarpus erinaceus (53% of nests) among 22 plant species used as supports. Nest height (average 7.46 m) was found to correlate with tree height (average 9.88 m), suggesting height-specific nesting preferences. The study highlights the impact of anthropogenic activities on chimpanzee behavior and provides critical data for conservation strategies in Senegal.

  Diallo, D., Ndiaye, P. I., Badji, L., & Pruetz, J. D. (2024). Savannah chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus) nesting behavior in the unprotected area of Tikankali near to a mining exploitation and the Niokolo Koba National Park in Senegal. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1228373

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• Updating Chimpanzee Nesting Data at Mount Assirik (Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal): Implications for Conservation

  Chimpanzees in Niokolo-Koba National Park (NKNP), Senegal, prefer nesting in closed-canopy habitats like gallery forests and exhibit a distinct nesting behavior compared to populations cohabiting with large carnivores. A recent study recorded 626 chimpanzee nests at Mount Assirik, revealing an average nest height of 8.07 ± 0.36 meters, significantly lower than previously documented in other regions. The research also identified that chimpanzees selectively choose tree species for nesting, with 12 out of 37 species being the most frequently used. Additionally, the study found that nest decay rates averaged 68.8 ± 5.8 days, providing new insights into chimpanzee nesting behavior in NKNP. These findings update decades-old data and offer critical information for the conservation management of this northernmost West African chimpanzee population.

  Ndiaye, Y. H., Ndiaye, P. I., Lindshield, S. M., & Pruetz, J. D. (2024). Updating Chimpanzee Nesting Data at Mount Assirik (Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal): Implications for Conservation. Animals, 14(4), 553. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14040553

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• The avifauna of Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal: a review of historical and recent ornithological records

  Niokolo-Koba National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and 913,000 ha protected area in southeastern Senegal, hosts at least 400 bird species historically recorded within or near its boundaries. A comprehensive review of formal and informal literature, supplemented by verification efforts with original observers, confirmed this avifauna richness while identifying two species as locally extinct. The study also highlighted 19 species with possible or probable presence. When focusing on post-1992 records, the park's bird diversity stands at 333 species, underscoring its ecological significance and the need for continued monitoring to track potential declines or shifts in avifauna composition.

  Rose, J. B., Fox, O. J., Piot, B., & Delaporte, P. (2023). The avifauna of Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal: a review of historical and recent ornithological records. Ostrich, 94(3), 137–177. https://doi.org/10.2989/00306525.2023.2270776

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• A story of abandonment: settlements and landscape in the Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal

  Research reveals the complex interplay between human settlement patterns and landscape transformations in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal, following its establishment. The study documents significant anthropogenic changes through interdisciplinary methods, including geoarchaeology, ethnoarchaeology, and ethnobotany, highlighting the heritage of both displaced and settled agricultural communities. Findings underscore the need for preservation efforts to capture the cultural and environmental legacy of these communities amid ongoing landscape shifts.

  Majerovičová, T., Šmejda, L., Novák, J., Manka, I., Ballesteros, M., Bumerl, J., Deme, A., & Beneš, J. (2022). A story of abandonment: settlements and landscape in the Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal. Antiquity, 96(389), 1330–1336. https://doi.org/10.15184/aqy.2022.97

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• Conflicts between large carnivores and local pastoralists around Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal

  A study on Niokolo-Koba National Park (NKNP) in Senegal reveals that spotted hyenas are the primary cause of livestock predation, accounting for 87% of attacks around the park. The research estimated a hyena population size ranging from 144 to 288 individuals and identified significant seasonal variations, with more livestock losses during the wet season (58%) compared to the dry season (42%). Notably, the West sector surrounding the park experienced the highest conflict levels (49% of attacks), particularly in the districts of Linkering and Medina Gounass. The study utilized calling stations, camera traps, tourist data, and surveys from 31 villages to assess large carnivore distribution, density, and human-wildlife conflicts. These findings underscore the need for targeted mitigation strategies to reduce livestock predation and human-carnivore conflicts.

  Gueye, M., Van Cauteren, D., Mengual, L., Pellaton, R., Leirs, H., Bertola, L. D., & de Iongh, H. (2022). Conflicts between large carnivores and local pastoralists around Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 68(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10344-021-01556-5

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• Not all black and white: Records of several melanistic honey badgers in Niokolo‐Koba National Park, Senegal

  Researchers documented melanistic (black) honey badgers in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal, challenging the long-held assumption that these animals are exclusively white with black markings. This discovery suggests greater genetic diversity within this species than previously recognized. The study relied on field observations and photographic records to identify multiple melanistic individuals, providing new insights into the phenotypic variation of honey badgers in West African ecosystems.

  Drouilly, M., Horion, R., & Henschel, P. (2022). Not all black and white: Records of several melanistic honey badgers in Niokolo‐Koba National Park, Senegal. African Journal of Ecology, 60(3), 807–812. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.12985

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• The Western Chimpanzee (Pan Troglodytes Verus) in the Antenna Zone (Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal): Nesting Ecology and Sympatrics with Other Mammals

  Western chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes verus) in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal, exhibit unique nesting behavior influenced by predator presence. The study found that chimpanzees predominantly use Hexalobus monopetalus and Pterocarpus erinaceus for nesting, with nest heights significantly lower than those observed at other sites like Assirik or Fongoli, despite the park's high risk of predation. This behavior provides critical insights into the species' adaptation to threat. The research also identified sympatric medium and large mammals using camera traps, contributing to a broader understanding of the park's biodiversity. Published in Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, these findings aim to inform conservation strategies for the Critically Endangered western chimpanzee population.

  SYLLA, S. F., NDIAYE, P. I., LINDSHIELD, S. M., BOGART, S. L., & PRUETZ, J. D. (2022). THE WESTERN CHIMPANZEE (PAN TROGLODYTES VERUS) IN THE ANTENNA ZONE (NIOKOLO KOBA NATIONAL PARK, SENEGAL): NESTING ECOLOGY AND SYMPATRICS WITH OTHER MAMMALS. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 20(3), 2663–2681. https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/2003_26632681

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• A citizen science approach to monitoring of the Lion Panthera leo (Carnivora: Felidae) population in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal

  A pilot study using citizen science successfully monitored the Critically Endangered western African lion population in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal. Over four and a half years, 93 observations involving 253 lion sightings were recorded by park guides and tourists in a central tourist area, providing valuable data on geographic distribution, age-class, sex, and behavior. While insufficient for population estimation, the study tentatively linked annual variations in lion observations to preceding rainfall totals, suggesting environmental influences on lion activity. This approach demonstrated potential for complementing traditional scientific methods while fostering tourism development and conservation awareness, with recommendations for scaling up efforts.

  Dagorne, D., Kanté, A., & Rose, J. B. (2020). A citizen science approach to monitoring of the Lion Panthera leo (Carnivora: Felidae) population in Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 12(1), 15091–15105. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5549.12.1.15091-15105

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• Description of Afrogyrodactylus ardae sp. n. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from Rhabdalestes septentrionalis (Characiformes: Alestidae) in the Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal

  A new monogenean species, Afrogyrodactylus ardae, has been discovered from the African tetra, Rhabdalestes septentrionalis, in the Niokolo-Koba National Park and Gambie River, Senegal. This finding represents a novel host record for the genus Afrogyrodactylus and distinguishes itself from three known species through its smaller opisthaptoral hard parts and unique sickle-shaped marginal hooks. The study, conducted during 2008, provides critical insights into the diversity of monogeneans in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, contributing to our understanding of parasitic relationships in aquatic ecosystems.

  Přikrylová, I., Smit, N. J., & Gelnar, M. (2017). Description of Afrogyrodactylus ardae sp. n. (Monogenea: Gyrodactylidae) from Rhabdalestes septentrionalis (Characiformes: Alestidae) in the Niokolo-Koba National Park, Senegal. Helminthologia, 54(4), 330–335. https://doi.org/10.1515/helm-2017-0045

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• Woody plant species diversity in the last wild habitat of the Derby Eland (Taurotragus derbianus derbianus Gray, 1847) in Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal, West Africa

  Niokolo-Koba National Park (NKNP) in Senegal is the last refuge for the critically endangered Derby Eland, and a study reveals that its woody plant diversity plays a crucial role in supporting this subspecies. Researchers identified 50 tree species across 29 families, with Combretaceae being the most dominant. Key environmental factors such as altitude, fire occurrence, and vegetation cover significantly influence plant distribution. The findings highlight the importance of in-situ fencing for sustainable conservation efforts to protect this endangered species in its native habitat.

  Mariama, C., Charlemagne, D. S. J. G., Val egrave re, K. S., Fran ccedil ois, N. K., Bienvenu, S., & Romain, L. G. e. l. e. K. i. (2016). Woody plant species diversity in the last wild habitat of the Derby Eland (Taurotragus derbianus derbianus Gray, 1847) in Niokolo Koba National Park, Senegal, West Africa. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, 8(2), 32–40. https://doi.org/10.5897/ijbc2015.0913

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