Les girafes du Niger, dernières girafes d'Afrique de l'ouest

The giraffes of Niger are the last West African giraffes. This last remaining population, reduced to less than 100 individuals, is found in the Koure area and the northern part of the Dallol Bosso, one hundred kilometres East of Niamey. These giraffes live peacefully with humans and cattle, in a non-protected area, without predators. They are threatened by the clearing of their habitat and by poaching. Over the course of the year 1996, more than 30 % of the individuals disappeared, largely due to the numerous captures ordered by the government of Niger. At the end of 1996, a land use management project based on the giraffes'conservation was implemented in their living area. This project made possible the protection and reconstitution of the giraffe population. The balanced sex-ratio and significant birth-rate gives the present population a very good grounding for expansion provided that adequate protection and valorization policies are maintained. Heightened public awareness of the population in general and the political leaders of Niger in particular, is also an important factor. The expansion of this population will be possible only within the framework of an economic development program based on the conservation and valorization of natural resources, on the one hand, and on the management of these resources by local rural communities on the other hand. This article introduces the history of the giraffes'presence in West Africa and the recent demographic evolution of the population of giraffes in NigerLes girafes du Niger sont les dernières girafes d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Elles constituent une petite population de moins d'une centaine d'individus, située dans la région de Kouré et du Dallol Bosso Nord, à cent kilomètres à l'est de Niamey. Ces girafes vivent en milieu naturel non protégé, côtoyant pacifiquement les paysans et les animaux domestiques, en l'absence de tout prédateur. Elles sont menacées par la dégradation de leur habitat et par le braconnage. Au cours de l'année 1996, plus de 30 % des individus ont disparu, notamment en raison de captures massives par l'armée sur ordre du gouvernement, L'implantation, dans leur zone d'habitat, en 1996, d'un projet de développement axé sur leur conservation, a permis la protection et la reconstitution de la population. Celle-ci présente un sex-ratio équilibré et une natalité importante qui laisse espérer son développement si de bonnes conditions de protection et de valorisation sont réunies, ainsi qu'une sensibilisation de la population nigérienne et des responsables politiques. tJne telle situation ne sera possible que dans la perspective d'un développement économique qui s'appuiera sur la conservation et la valorisation des ressources naturelles d'une part, sur la gestion de ces ressources par les communautés rurales concernées d'autre part. Cet article présente l'historique de la présence des girafes en Afrique de l'Ouest et l'évolution démographique récente de la population de girafes du Niger

The last West African giraffes: insured survival or threatened future ?

The present paper describes the current situation of the giraffes of Niger. While the giraffe population there has increased from an estimated 49 in 1996 to more than 200 today, they remain extremely vulnerable. As a matter of fact, the abandonment of the local development initiative, begun in 1996, had adversely affected the area inhabited by giraffes from both an ecological and social point of view. This is because the rural population has ceased to be involved in the management of the natural resource base, resulting in the abandonment of conservation practices as witnessed by the establishment of some 10 local firewood markets in the region. The presence of these markets, in addition to clearing for cultivation of land, contributes to the large and irreversible destruction of the bush habitat and pasture used by the giraffes in the rainy season. A second consequence of the failure of the local development initiative is an increasing dependence on outside donors that have a presence in the region. This situation seriously compromises sustainable development in the region of Koure and of Dallol Bosso Nord and threatens the survival of the last remaining giraffes in West AfricaCet article décrit la situation actuelle des girafes du Niger. Si la population, estimée à 49 individus en septembre 1996, en compte actuellement plus de 200, elle reste néanmoins extrêmement vulnérable. En effet, l'abandon de la démarche de développement local, initiée en 1996, a entraîné de graves répercussions au niveau de la zone girafes, tant sur le plan écologique que sur le plan social. L'absence d'implication de la population rurale dans la gestion des ressources naturelles de son terroir a eu pour première conséquence son désengagement par rapport à leur conservation, ce qui a notamment favorisé l'implantation dans la région d'une dizaine de marchés de bois. Ces derniers contribuent, avec le défrichement lié aux cultures, à la destruction massive et irréversible de la brousse tigrée, habitat et pâturage de saison des pluies des girafes. Une deuxième conséquence réside dans l'établissement d'une relation de dépendance vis-à-vis des donateurs présents dans la région. Cette situation compromet gravement tant le développement durable de la région de Koure et du Dallol Bosso Nord que la survie des dernières girafes d'Afrique de l'Ouest

Les girafes du Niger, dernières girafes d’Afrique de l’Ouest

The giraffes of Niger are the last West African giraffes. This last remaining population, reduced to less than 100 individuals, is found in the Koure area and the northern part of the Dallol Bosso, one hundred kilometres East of Niamey. These giraffes live peacefully with humans and cattle, in a non-protected area, without predators. They are threatened by the clearing of their habitat and by poaching. Over the course of the year 1996, more than 30 % of the individuals disappeared, largely due to the numerous captures ordered by the government of Niger. At the end of 1996, a land use management project based on the giraffes’ conservation was implemented in their living area. This project made possible the protection and reconstitution of the giraffe population. The balanced sex-ratio and significant birth-rate gives the present population a very good grounding for expansion provided that adequate protection and valorization policies are maintained. Heightened public awareness of the population in general and the political leaders of Niger in particular, is also an important factor. The expansion of this population will be possible only within the framework of an economic development program based on the conservation and valorization of natural resources, on the one hand, and on the management of these resources by local rural communities on the other hand. This article introduces the history of the giraffes’ presence in West Africa and the recent demographic evolution of the population of giraffes in Niger.Les girafes du Niger sont les dernières girafes d’Afrique de l’Ouest. Elles constituent une petite population de moins d’une centaine d’individus, située dans la région de Kouré et du Dallol Bosso Nord, à cent kilomètres à l’est de Niamey. Ces girafes vivent en milieu naturel non protégé, côtoyant pacifiquement les paysans et les animaux domestiques, en l’absence de tout prédateur. Elles sont menacées par la dégradation de leur habitat et par le braconnage. Au cours de l'année 1996, plus de 30 % des individus ont disparu, notamment en raison de captures massives par l’armée sur ordre du gouvernement. L’implantation, dans leur zone d’habitat, en 1996, d’un projet de développement axé sur leur conservation, a permis la protection et la reconstitution de la population. Celle-ci présente un sex-ratio équilibré et une natalité importante qui laisse espérer son développement si de bonnes conditions de protection et de valorisation sont réunies, ainsi qu’une sensibilisation de la population nigérienne et des responsables politiques. Une telle situation ne sera possible que dans la perspective d’un développement économique qui s’appuiera sur la conservation et la valorisation des ressources naturelles d’une part, sur la gestion de ces ressources par les communautés rurales concernées d’autre part. Cet article présente l’historique de la présence des girafes en Afrique de l’Ouest et l’évolution démographique récente de la population de girafes du Niger.Ciofolo Isabelle, Le Pendu Yvonnick, Gosser Allen. Les girafes du Niger, dernières girafes d’Afrique de l’Ouest. In: Revue d'Écologie (La Terre et La Vie), tome 55, n°2, 2000. pp. 117-128

Evidence for signature whistles in Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) in Ilhéus, northeastern Brazil

International audienceSignature whistles have been widely studied in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). A recent study suggested the occurrence of signature whistles in Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) but could not identify the whistlers. The objective of this study is to describe the whistle characteristics in the population of S. guianensis from Ilhéus and investigate the occurrence of signature whistles. Dolphins from 55 groups were photographed and sound emissions from 21 groups were recorded. The frequency parameters and duration of the 847 recorded whistles were similar to those recorded in 12 other populations, on an intermediate position of a latitudinal gradient. The visual classification method was applied to the spectrograms of 68 stereotyped potential signature whistles. Five out of 6 human judges agreed on the formation of 13 groups. The presence of the same individuals in different recording occasions of stereotyped whistles suggests that some whistle types are produced by specific individuals. The study is the first to use the photo-identification technique to identify Guiana dolphins emitting whistles and the results reinforce the hypothesis of signature whistles in this specie

Les dernières girafes d’Afrique de l’Ouest : sauvegarde assurée ou avenir menacé?

Summary. — The last West African giraffes : insured survival or threatened future ? — The present paper describes the current situation of the giraffes of Niger. While the giraffe population there has increased from an estimated 49 in 1996 to more than 200 today, they remain extremely vulnerable. As a matter of fact, the abandonment of the local development initiative, begun in 1996, had adversely affected the area inhabited by giraffes from both an ecological and social point of view. This is because the rural population has ceased to be involved in the management of the natural resource base, resulting in the abandonment of conservation practices as witnessed by the establishment of some 10 local firewood markets in the region. The presence of these markets, in addition to clearing for cultivation of land, contributes to the large and irreversible destruction of the bush habitat and pasture used by the giraffes in the rainy season. A second consequence of the failure of the local development initiative is an increasing dependence on outside donors that have a presence in the region. This situation seriously compromises sustainable development in the region of Koure and of Dallol Bosso Nord and threatens the survival of the last remaining giraffes in West Africa.Résumé. — Cet article décrit la situation actuelle des girafes du Niger. Si la population, estimée à 49 individus en septembre 1996, en compte actuellement plus de 200, elle reste néanmoins extrêmement vulnérable. En effet, l’abandon de la démarche de développement local, initiée en 1996, a entraîné de graves répercussions au niveau de la zone girafes, tant sur le plan écologique que sur le plan social. L’absence d’implication de la population rurale dans la gestion des ressources naturelles de son terroir a eu pour première conséquence son désengagement par rapport à leur conservation, ce qui a notamment favorisé l’implantation dans la région d’une dizaine de marchés de bois. Ces derniers contribuent, avec le défrichement lié aux cultures, à la destruction massive et irréversible de la brousse tigrée, habitat et pâturage de saison des pluies des girafes. Une deuxième conséquence réside dans l’établissement d’une relation de dépendance vis-à-vis des donateurs présents dans la région. Cette situation compromet gravement tant le développement durable de la région de Koure et du Dallol Bosso Nord que la survie des dernières girafes d’Afrique de l’Ouest.Ciofolo Isabelle, Ambouta Karimou, Le Pendu Yvonnick. Les dernières girafes d’Afrique de l’Ouest : sauvegarde assurée ou avenir menacé?. In: Revue d'Écologie (La Terre et La Vie), tome 64, n°4, 2009. pp. 351-358

Behaviour of <it>Sotalia guianensis</it> (van Bénéden, 1864) (Cetacea, Delphinidae) and ethnoecological knowledge of artisanal fishermen from Canavieiras, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract Artisanal fishermen, because of their direct and frequent contact with the aquatic environment, possess a wealth of knowledge about the natural history of the fauna of the region in which they live. This knowledge, both practical and theoretical, has been frequently utilized and integrated into academic research. Taking this into consideration, this study discusses the ethnoecological knowledge of artisanal fishermen from a community in Canavieiras, state of Bahia, Brazil regarding the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis), a typically costal member of the family Delphinidae that is little studied in this region. To this end, the behaviour of S. guianensis in Canavieiras was recorded over one year and the data obtained were compared with fishermen’s reports. A total of 609 hours of behavioural observations of S. guianensis was conducted from a fixed point in alternate morning and afternoon sessions between October 2009 and September 2010. Observations were conducted from a pier (15°40’59”S and 38°56’38”W) situated on the banks of the Pardo River estuary - the region’s main river - at 5.5 m above water level. For ethnoecological data collection, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 26 fishermen in May, June and September 2010 and January 2011 in the fishing community of Atalaia. Occasional boat expeditions were made with the fishermen to compare their reports with direct observations of the behaviour of S. guianensis. The results demonstrate that fishermen possess a body of knowledge about S. guianensis that describes in detail the main behavioural aspects of the species. They reported the presence of S. guianensis in the Pardo River estuary throughout the year and its gregarious behaviour. They cited a relationship between the movement of dolphins and tidal cycles, and their presence in the estuary associated with the search for food. In addition, the fishermen reported that numbers of infants in groups were proportional to group size. Behaviours described were compatible with the observations made in situ and with data found in the scientific literature, confirming the importance of traditional knowledge in complementing scientific data. One behaviour mentioned by the fishermen that had no equivalence in the scientific literature was confirmed in situ and, therefore, constitutes the first record for this species.</p

Inter-individual associations and social structure of a mouflon population (Ovis orientalis musimon)

International audienceWe analysed individual associations between mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon) observed during one year in order to find ontogenetic patterns underlying the social structure of the population. A correspondence factorial analysis was performed on Simpson's coefficients to compare association profiles. No strong association was found between adults but some of the young adult females maintained a preferential bond with their mother until the age of three. Yearling males were firstly unstable in their social relations and subsequently developed a strong preference for peers (the preferred companion(s) of young adult males were always young adult males). Animals did not prefer to associate with other individuals of their own family (Wilcoxon test: n = 53; z = 0.463; a < 0.01). Localized abundant food sources caused large regroupings during spring. This was the only case where we noted a series of observations where the same unrelated animals were seen together. With the exception of the mother-offspring relationship, individual social preferences were based on the sex and age of the partner rather than on identity. The existence of social behaviour profiles dependent on sex and age is proposed to explain the above results

Non-legalized commerce in game meat in the Brazilian Amazon: a case study

In tropical forests, wild game meat represents an option or the only protein source for some human populations. This study analyzed the wildlife meat trade destined to human consumption in an open market of the Amazon rainforest, Brazil. Wildlife meat trade was monitored during 2005 through interviews to vendors and consumers in order to evaluate the socioeconomic profile of the sellers, the main species and byproducts sold, their geographical origin, commercial value, frequency of sale and product demand. Data indicated that vendors were financially highly dependant of this activity, getting a monthly income up to US$271.49. During the survey, the amount of wildlife meat on sale added a total of 5 970kg, as follows: 63.2% capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), 34.4% cayman (Melanosuchus niger and/or Caiman crocodilus crocodilus), 1.1% paca (Cuniculus paca); 0.6% armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), 0.5% deer (Mazama americana), 0.2% matamata (Chelus fimbriatus), and 0.1% opossum (Didelphis marsupialis). Most of the commercialized species were not slaughtered locally. The consumption of wildlife meat was admitted by 94% of the interviewed, consisting of 27 ethno-species: 19 mammals, 6 reptiles, and 2 birds. The same percentage of the interviewed (94%) already bought wildlife meat of 18 species: 12 mammals and 6 reptiles. The great amount of wildlife meat traded and the important demand for these products by the local population, point out the necessity to adopt policies for a sustainable management of cinegetic species, guaranteeing the conservation of the environment, the improvement of living standards, and the maintenance of the local culture. Rev. Biol. Trop. 58 (3): 1079-1088. Epub 2010 September 01