Taï National Park

World Heritage Research

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

• Demography and life history of five chimpanzee communities in Taï National Park

  A nearly four-decade study of wild chimpanzees in Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire, reveals critical insights into their demography and life-history strategies. By tracking five communities (North, South, Middle, East Groups), researchers uncovered key reproductive metrics such as age at first birth, interbirth intervals, and longevity, providing a rare long-term dataset for chimpanzee ecology. The study highlights adaptations in Taï chimpanzees' reproductive success and fitness, offering comparisons with other long-term sites to elucidate species-specific responses to environmental challenges.

  Wittig, R., & Boesch, C. (2019). Demography and life history of five chimpanzee communities in Taï National Park. The Chimpanzees of the Taï Forest, 125–140. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108674218.010

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• Factors influencing bacterial microbiome composition in a wild non-human primate community in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

  A groundbreaking study reveals that the gut microbiomes of nine sympatric non-human primate species in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire, are shaped by host species, social group dynamics, and parentage, rather than direct social relationships. Surprisingly, chimpanzees exhibited unique phylogenetic overdispersion patterns, contrasting with the expected clustering seen in other monkey species. This suggests distinct ecological or physiological factors influencing their microbiome composition. The research employed a comparative approach to analyze microbiome data across species, providing insights into the complex dispersal routes and evolutionary pressures shaping these microbial communities.

  Gogarten, J. F., Davies, T. J., Benjamino, J., Gogarten, J. P., Graf, J., Mielke, A., Mundry, R., Nelson, M. C., Wittig, R. M., Leendertz, F. H., & Calvignac-Spencer, S. (2018). Factors influencing bacterial microbiome composition in a wild non-human primate community in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. The ISME Journal, 12(10), 2559–2574. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-018-0166-1

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• Bushmeat consumption and environmental awareness in rural households: a case study around Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire

  A significant reduction in bushmeat consumption—exceeding 62% after four multimedia campaigns—was observed in rural households near Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire. The study highlights the effectiveness of recurring awareness campaigns, combining theatre and film screenings, in curbing bushmeat intake, particularly among poorer households with more dependent children. Bushmeat, primarily composed of rodents and bovids, accounted for 13% of animal protein consumed in these communities. Researchers conducted surveys in 144 households across 20 localities between July and December 2012 to assess the impact of poverty and awareness campaigns on bushmeat consumption patterns.

  Kouassi, J. A. K., Normand, E., Koné, I., & Boesch, C. (2017). Bushmeat consumption and environmental awareness in rural households: a case study around Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. Oryx, 53(2), 293–299. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0030605317000333

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• Diversity and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in seven non-human primates of the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire

  A comprehensive survey of gastrointestinal parasites in seven non-human primate species within Côte d'Ivoire's Taï National Park reveals high diversity and prevalence, with 23 parasite species identified. Species such as Cercopithecus diana, C. petaurista, Cercocebus atys, and C. campbelli exhibited greater parasite richness and more equitable distribution compared to others. The study, the first of its kind for these primate taxa in Taï National Park, employed microscopic examination techniques—direct wet mount, formalin-ethyl acetate concentration, and MIF (merthiolate, iodine, formalin) concentration—to analyze 3142 stool samples collected between 2009 and 2010. Findings underscore the complex parasitic dynamics in these primate populations, providing critical baseline data for future conservation and health monitoring efforts.

  Kouassi, R. Y. W., McGraw, S. W., Yao, P. K., Abou-Bacar, A., Brunet, J., Pesson, B., Bonfoh, B., N’goran, E. K., & Candolfi, E. (2015). Diversity and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in seven non-human primates of the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. Parasite, 22, 1. https://doi.org/10.1051/parasite/2015001

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• How feeding competition determines female chimpanzee gregariousness and ranging in the Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire

  In Taï National Park, Côte d'Ivoire, high-ranking female chimpanzees increase their gregariousness during periods of food scarcity, unlike low-ranking females who reduce their social interactions to minimize energy expenditure. This study challenges the assumption that high-ranking females always benefit from being more social, revealing instead a conditional response to ecological conditions. Researchers analyzed long-term data from two Taï chimpanzee communities using multivariate analysis to test whether dominance rank influenced gregariousness and travel costs. The findings suggest that female chimpanzees in Taï do not monopolize core areas, unlike other populations such as those in Gombe or Kibale, indicating significant variation in social behavior across chimpanzee populations.

  Riedel, J., Franz, M., & Boesch, C. (2010). How feeding competition determines female chimpanzee gregariousness and ranging in the Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. American Journal of Primatology, 73(4), 305–313. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.20897

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