The average population density of chimpanzee was lowest nearest the roads and peaked at the far away from them
Construction of roads may have affected the chimpanzee population in West Africa, a new study found.
The impact on the primate population extended to about 17.2 kilometres from major roads (10 metre wide) and 5.4 km from minor roads (5 m wide), as stated in the report.
Consecutive bands of 1-km width were added on either side of the roads. The average population density of the chimpanzees was lowest nearest the roads and peaked at the far limits.
Only 4.3 per cent of the chimpanzee range was not impacted by existing roads.
The study was led by the University of Exeter, the United Kingdom and covered wild western chimpanzees in Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Senegal and Sierra Leone. The findings were published in the journal Conservation Letters.
The road-effect zones (REZ) were defined as the distance beyond which chimpanzee density did not increase. REZ around major roads was over three times wider than a previous estimate of the average REZ for mammals.
There are 41,925 km of major roads and average density of the western chimpanzee first peaked at 17 km from the closest major road, the study found.
There are 206,110 km of minor roads within the chimpanzee range. Average chimpanzee density values first peaked at 5 km from the closest minor road.
The western chimpanzee population has declined by 80 per cent in the last 20 years and is currently classified as critically endangered in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
Among 33 development corridors in Africa, four — Lamu Port-South-Sudan Ethiopia Transport corridor in Kenya, Beira and Nacala corridors in Mozambique and the Southern Agricultural Growth Corridor in Tanzania — will cut through western chimpanzee habitats.
Nearly 40 per cent western chimpanzees live within 5 km of a human settlement and nearly 60 per cent within 5 km of a road. Roads expose the habitats of these primates to mining, logging, agriculture and hunting, the report noted.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
.png)
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.