Primate Conservation along the Tana River, Kenya: An Examination of the Forest Habitat

Abstract

The Tana River National Primate Reserve, Kenya, was established in 1976 to preserve the endemic and endangered Tana River red colobus ( Colobus badius rufomitratus ) and crested mangabey ( Cercocebus galeritus galeritus ). Between 1975 and 1985 their populations declined by 80% and 45%, respectively. A study addressing primate‐to‐habitat relationships was conducted in 12 forest areas to determine what attributes appear most important to the in situ preservation of both endangered primates. Correlations among the abundances of primate groups, their group sizes, and the structural, resource, disturbance, and spatial attributes of the forest were used to distinguish the quality of forest patches. Intraforest habitat quality was examined, using canonical variate analysis to discriminate primate ranging patterns based on canopy and subcanopy tree composition. The colobus and mangabey show positive relationships to interior‐forest habitat and appear susceptible to forest disturbances that reduce forest area or that increase forest edge and intraforest disturbance. Forest loss, fragmentation, and consequent reduction in the area‐to‐perimeter ratio of the remaining forests measured from 1960 to 1975 provide a partial explanation for the decline in primate populations. The results suggest that a combination of primary food items and seasonal food resources in large, high‐stature, closed‐canopy forests is the best predictor of high‐quality habitat for these monkeys. Stewardship should be directed at the preservation of these areas or the restoration of forests toward this habitat model

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