Population structure and seasonal home range of free ranging vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus Pygerythrus) Within Federal University Of Agriculture, Abeokuta (Funaab Zoo Park) Zoological Park, Ogun State, Nigeria

Abstract

In order to provide baseline information for the management of free-range primates in a touristic environment, an ecological study to  determine the population structure and estimates of home range of Vervet monkeys (Chlorocebus pygerythrus) in Federal University of  Agriculture, Abeokuta, Zoological Park was conducted. Direct count method was used for animal census and morphological indices were  enlisted to identify and classify the monkeys into age and sex categories. Identified troops were followed and coordinates of their  movement were taken with the aid of GPS. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the population encountered across months and  season. Chi square was used to compare population encountered by season, sex. Coordinates collected were plotted into Aeronautical  Reconnaissance Coverage Geographic Information System (ArcGis) software to estimate the area covered during the dry and wet season  forming a backdrop to generate a bounding area of range covered. The results showed total number of Vervet monkeys encountered  was higher in wet season (2,260) than in dry season (2,010) in twenty (20) encounters. Similarly, monthly trends of the population  revealed that the females were more than males all through. The trends seem similar as the population of both sexes peaked together in  the month of August (Male=100; Female=240). Also, their age structure indicated that Adults > Juvenile > Infants throughout the period of  the study. There was no significance difference (p>0.05) in the sex, and age structure of the monkeys throughout the period of the study  (Male p=0.91; Female P=0.96; Adult p=0.99; Juvenile p=0.94; Infant p=0.97) respectively. The home range of the study troop was  numerically higher in dry season (6.4ha) than in wet season (6.3ha) but there was no significant difference in the area covered by the  study troop seasonally (p>0.05). The study concluded that population structure of vervet monkeys in terms of sex was similar and there  was similarity in their home range across the two seasons. It is therefore recommended that the areas frequently used by the vervet  monkeys should be monitored more in order to ensure continued existence of this free-range monkeys within the park and document  changes in pattern of movement and growth as this will modulate management policies within the park.