Population size, distribution, habitat use & feeding ecology of Boutourlini‟s Blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis boutourlini) in Halu forest priority area, Hamuma Natural & Coffee forest East Ilubabor zone, western Ethiopia

Abstract

The study on population size, distribution, habitat use and feeding ecology of Boutourlinis blue monkeys was carried out in Hamuma Natural and Coffee forests from November 2022 - May 2023 during dry season. Total counting method was used to count the total population size, distribution and habitat use of the Boutourlinis blue monkey and Scan sampling method was used to collect data for feeding ecology of Boutourlinis blue monkey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Microsoft excel. From one group sighted, a total of 27 and 17 individuals were counted in Hamuma natural forest and Hamuma Coffee forest during dry season respectively. The number of adult female was highest in both study area during the study period. The distribution and habitat use of Boutourlinis blue monkey in each study area varied among the study habitats. Out of the total 27 individuals, for Hamuma natural forest group, 16(59.25%) were recorded from thick forest and 11(40.74) were from bush land. Out of the total 17 individuals, for Hamuma Coffee forest group, 10(58.8%) was from Coffee plantation and 7(41.2%) was from bush land. A total of 12 plant species belonging to 10 families were consumed by Boutourlinis blue monkey in each study area during the study period. Ficus sur was the most consumed plant species which accounted for19.5%, followed by Syzygium guineens(18.5%),Albizia gummifera(15%),Landolphia buchanani(13%)Cordia africana(11.8%) were the top five plant species consumed in Hamuma Natural forest during the study period. The species frequently consumed young leave (31.2%), fruit (25.9%), mature leave (21.4%), seed (15.75%) and bark (5.7%). In Coffee forest, Syzygium guineense was the most consumed plant species which accounted for 18%, Psidium guajava(17.4%), Ficus sur(14.57%),Albizia gummifera(12.9%), and Cordial Africana(12%) were the top five plant species consumed in Hamuma coffee forest and they frequently consumed young leave(29.6%), fruit(26.6%),mature leave(22.6%), seed(15.2%) and bark (6%).Study on population size, distribution, habitat use and feeding ecology of blue monkeys could give important information about this species. Awareness creation among local people about the importance of forest, the species and how they protect and manage it from different anthropogenic activities should be forwarded.