Feeding and social behaviour of common primates in the Kakum National Park, central region of Ghana

Abstract

This research was carried out from August 1997 to September 1998 in the Kakum National Park in the Central Region of Ghana. It was centred mainly on the feeding and social behaviour of the common primates with empliasis on factors that are currently or potentially threatening or enhancing their existence. The possibility of incorporating the viewing of monkeys in the management of the p~k to attract tourists was also investigated. Five species of primates,were seen, Mona monkey (Cercopithecus mOlla), Spot nosed monkey (c. petaurista), Green monkey (c. aethiops), Black and White colobus monkey (Colobus polykomos) and Olive Colobus (Procolobus versus). A sixth, the bush baby (Galago sp) was not seen but identified by its nocturnal calls. C. mOllO, C. Petaurista and P. versus were frequently seen but C. petaurista was the commonest. C. mOllO, C. Petaurista and P. versus occupied the lower canopy while ColobltS polykomos stayed in the highest canopies most of the time. C. aethiops stayed in the secondary forests outside the park put run back into the park when they sensed danger. C. dialla which had been declared endangered by the park authorities was never seen. Three fruit trees, Musallga cecropioides, Pycllalltlllls allgolellsis and Raphia llOokeri were the most popular sources of food for the monkeys and existed throughout the forest. Apart from R. hookeri fruits which were available all year round all other monkey fruit trees did not bear fruits during the dry season. All the primates encountered ate from the trees found. nCercopithecus ilOilO, C. Pelartrista and Procolobus versus formed various ncombinations of mixed species troops with C. petaurista being a member of the species combinations most times. The white crested hOl1lbill and the black and Maxwell's duikers were found to associate with the monkeys during feeding. No natural predators 10 monkeys were found. The agility of the monkeys coupled wilh various lliarm-response mechanisms seemed to prevent predators from getting close. Poaching by the surrounding communities seemed to be a problem in the Kakum National Park and this affected any initiation of monk;y viewing as a tourist attraction. Viewing of monkeys as a viable tourist attraction may not be realised because Ihe monkeys were seen to be afrai~ of humans probably because of the poaching menace. Thus the tourism potentials were very low and depended on human (poaching) influences. Cercopithecus /ilOilO, Cercopithecus pctourista and Procolobus versus could be viewed or watched after hiding effectively during times that the monkeys were aclive. More research needs to be done in the Kakum National Park especially on the monkeys to add to the compilation ofa comprehensive document on rainforest primates.