Spotted! Remote camera traps used in a novel design reveal a perilous situation for the Critically Endangered Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) in a conflict‐affected protected area in Benin
Abstract Large mammals play critical roles in ecosystems, yet 60% are threatened with extinction and populations continue to decrease. Declines are particularly precipitous in conflict‐affected areas, disrupting ecosystems and reducing chances of post‐conflict recovery. Large carnivores are dispropo...
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Wiley
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Ecological Solutions and Evidence |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.70036 |
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| author | Marine Drouilly Audrey Ipavec Oksana Grente Robin Horion Aurlus Ouindeyama Philipp Henschel Vincent Lapeyre Yekini Chabi N'Diaye Ali Shams Christine Breitenmoser Sarah M. Durant |
| author_facet | Marine Drouilly Audrey Ipavec Oksana Grente Robin Horion Aurlus Ouindeyama Philipp Henschel Vincent Lapeyre Yekini Chabi N'Diaye Ali Shams Christine Breitenmoser Sarah M. Durant |
| author_sort | Marine Drouilly |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Large mammals play critical roles in ecosystems, yet 60% are threatened with extinction and populations continue to decrease. Declines are particularly precipitous in conflict‐affected areas, disrupting ecosystems and reducing chances of post‐conflict recovery. Large carnivores are disproportionately impacted by armed conflict, yet information on population status is lacking in areas affected by insecurity because the intense survey effort required poses risks to human safety. The globally important W‐Arly‐Pendjari (WAP) ecosystem is increasingly affected by conflict and supports one of the four known remaining populations of the Critically Endangered, yet poorly documented, Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki). We used camera traps in a novel dual placement design over three biennial surveys to generate reliable and repeatable estimates for cheetah in Pendjari National Park and its surrounding hunting zones. Our design ensured detection of sufficient individuals and recaptures to allow density estimation and could be adapted for other rare, low‐density species. The two best multi‐session hybrid mixture spatially‐explicit capture recapture (SECR) models estimated a density of 0.26 ± 0.10 SE individual/100 km2 across the 4839 km2 survey area, or 0.51 ± 0.16 SE individual/100 km2 in Pendjari National Park and zero density in the adjacent hunting zones. The sex ratio was female‐biased, and females moved over more than twice the area of males, in agreement with studies elsewhere. Cheetahs showed strong crepuscular activity patterns, but males were also active before sunrise and after sunset. Practical implication: Our results indicate that Pendjari National Park is likely to be a core area for cheetah in this ecosystem and may be an important source population for the WAP Complex; however, the cheetah population is worryingly small. Violent extremism and insecurity are widespread across the remaining distribution of A. j. hecki and hence, we recommend that our approach, which minimises on‐the‐ground fieldwork, be used to provide vital data to prioritise and assess conservation interventions. We also recommend targeted protection and financial support to bolster the remaining key core population of A. j. hecki and their prey. Our results highlight the urgent need for effective and coordinated action to prevent the loss of this iconic cheetah subspecies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c21166cf0db949f79633ef2670e1d461 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2688-8319 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Solutions and Evidence |
| spelling | doaj-art-c21166cf0db949f79633ef2670e1d4612025-08-20T02:43:54ZengWileyEcological Solutions and Evidence2688-83192025-04-0162n/an/a10.1002/2688-8319.70036Spotted! Remote camera traps used in a novel design reveal a perilous situation for the Critically Endangered Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) in a conflict‐affected protected area in BeninMarine Drouilly0Audrey Ipavec1Oksana Grente2Robin Horion3Aurlus Ouindeyama4Philipp Henschel5Vincent Lapeyre6Yekini Chabi N'Diaye7Ali Shams8Christine Breitenmoser9Sarah M. Durant10Panthera New York New York USAAfrica Range‐Wide Cheetah Initiative ZSL Benin Cotonou BeninCEFE, University of Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD Montpellier FrancePanthera New York New York USAAfrican Parks Network Natitingou BeninPanthera New York New York USAWAP Program Zoological Society of London Cotonou BeninWAP Program Zoological Society of London Cotonou BeninAshia Cheetah Conservation Paarl South AfricaInternational Union for Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission Cat Specialist Group, c/o Foundation KORA Carnivore Ecology and Wildlife Management Ittigen SwitzerlandInstitute of Zoology Zoological Society of London London UKAbstract Large mammals play critical roles in ecosystems, yet 60% are threatened with extinction and populations continue to decrease. Declines are particularly precipitous in conflict‐affected areas, disrupting ecosystems and reducing chances of post‐conflict recovery. Large carnivores are disproportionately impacted by armed conflict, yet information on population status is lacking in areas affected by insecurity because the intense survey effort required poses risks to human safety. The globally important W‐Arly‐Pendjari (WAP) ecosystem is increasingly affected by conflict and supports one of the four known remaining populations of the Critically Endangered, yet poorly documented, Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki). We used camera traps in a novel dual placement design over three biennial surveys to generate reliable and repeatable estimates for cheetah in Pendjari National Park and its surrounding hunting zones. Our design ensured detection of sufficient individuals and recaptures to allow density estimation and could be adapted for other rare, low‐density species. The two best multi‐session hybrid mixture spatially‐explicit capture recapture (SECR) models estimated a density of 0.26 ± 0.10 SE individual/100 km2 across the 4839 km2 survey area, or 0.51 ± 0.16 SE individual/100 km2 in Pendjari National Park and zero density in the adjacent hunting zones. The sex ratio was female‐biased, and females moved over more than twice the area of males, in agreement with studies elsewhere. Cheetahs showed strong crepuscular activity patterns, but males were also active before sunrise and after sunset. Practical implication: Our results indicate that Pendjari National Park is likely to be a core area for cheetah in this ecosystem and may be an important source population for the WAP Complex; however, the cheetah population is worryingly small. Violent extremism and insecurity are widespread across the remaining distribution of A. j. hecki and hence, we recommend that our approach, which minimises on‐the‐ground fieldwork, be used to provide vital data to prioritise and assess conservation interventions. We also recommend targeted protection and financial support to bolster the remaining key core population of A. j. hecki and their prey. Our results highlight the urgent need for effective and coordinated action to prevent the loss of this iconic cheetah subspecies.https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.70036armed conflictbiodiversity monitoringcamera‐trappingcarnivore conservationPendjari National ParkSaharan cheetah |
| spellingShingle | Marine Drouilly Audrey Ipavec Oksana Grente Robin Horion Aurlus Ouindeyama Philipp Henschel Vincent Lapeyre Yekini Chabi N'Diaye Ali Shams Christine Breitenmoser Sarah M. Durant Spotted! Remote camera traps used in a novel design reveal a perilous situation for the Critically Endangered Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) in a conflict‐affected protected area in Benin Ecological Solutions and Evidence armed conflict biodiversity monitoring camera‐trapping carnivore conservation Pendjari National Park Saharan cheetah |
| title | Spotted! Remote camera traps used in a novel design reveal a perilous situation for the Critically Endangered Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) in a conflict‐affected protected area in Benin |
| title_full | Spotted! Remote camera traps used in a novel design reveal a perilous situation for the Critically Endangered Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) in a conflict‐affected protected area in Benin |
| title_fullStr | Spotted! Remote camera traps used in a novel design reveal a perilous situation for the Critically Endangered Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) in a conflict‐affected protected area in Benin |
| title_full_unstemmed | Spotted! Remote camera traps used in a novel design reveal a perilous situation for the Critically Endangered Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) in a conflict‐affected protected area in Benin |
| title_short | Spotted! Remote camera traps used in a novel design reveal a perilous situation for the Critically Endangered Northwest African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus hecki) in a conflict‐affected protected area in Benin |
| title_sort | spotted remote camera traps used in a novel design reveal a perilous situation for the critically endangered northwest african cheetah acinonyx jubatus hecki in a conflict affected protected area in benin |
| topic | armed conflict biodiversity monitoring camera‐trapping carnivore conservation Pendjari National Park Saharan cheetah |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.70036 |
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