Reports

HOPE Report  2004-09-17

Program No.17 (Joint research)

A field study on wild Pan paniscus

BY Hiroshi Ihobe : Associate Professor, Faculty of Human Sciences, Sugiyama Jogakuen University

Period of research: 31 June 2004 - 11 September 2004

Places of research: Kinshasa and Wamba in Democratic Republic of Congo

1) A fieldwork on wild Pan paniscus in and around Wamba

The sociological and ecological data on wild Pan paniscus were collected in and around Wamba. The field study on Pan paniscus at Wamba was interrupted by a civil war period from the latter half of 1990's to 2002. A result of the survey conducted in March and April 2004 suggested that there was a possibility that the population of Pan paniscus at Wamba was decreased during the civil war period. This study aims to know the population of Pan paniscus in and around Wamba.

The six groups of Pan paniscus inhabited the Wamba region and three groups (E1, E2 and P groups) were habituated before the war. This study revealed the actual membership of the E1 group by individual identification. The presence of E2 and P groups was strongly suggested by the direct observation of them and the indirect evidences such as vocal, food remains and beds of them. The presence of the remaining three groups, however, was not confirmed in this study.

The extensive survey on Pan paniscus and other mammals was also conducted. The interviews and questionnaires about the presence of Pan paniscus and other mammals to local people were carried out in Wamba, Djolu, Lingomo, Mompono and Befori.

2) A visit for a Pan paniscus sanctuary in Kinshasa

I visited a Pan paniscus sanctuary in Kinshasa, named "Lola ya bonobo", operated by Mrs. Claudine Andre to discuss the possibility of a future cooperative study.

A survey scene in Wamba

A large area survey scene in Wamba
 

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