Centre de Recherche de Primatologie Simenti
Field Site Simenti
Since April 2007, the German Primate Center (DPZ) is operating a field station in the Senegal, West-Africa. The site is located in the Parc National de Niokolo Koba (PNNK). Research activities focus on Guinea baboons. Currently, basic studies on ecology as well as social and mating behaviour of this so far rarely studied taxon are the primary focus. These studies shall lay the foundation for future investigations of the communication and social cognition of this species.
The project is supported by the National Park Administration (Diréction des Parcs Nationaux, DPN) as well as the Department of the Environment (Ministère de l´Environnement et de la Protéction de la Nature de la République du Sénégal, MEPN).
Parc National de Niokolo Koba
With a size of approximately 913,000 ha, the PNNK is the largest national park in Senegal. The park is located at the centre of the north-south range of the Guinea baboons. In 1981 it was declared as a UNESCO world heritage site (since 2007 List of World Heritage in Danger).
The climate is highly seasonal with a dry season from November till June. The average annual rainfall is 1000-1100mm (Dupuy 1971) and is mostly concentrated in the rainy season from July till October. Vegetation varies from a southern Sudanian to Guinean type with predominant savannah, more luxuriant vegetation along the courses of the rivers and a varying cover of trees and bushes. This vegetation changes its character according to topography and soils (Dupuy 1971). Approximately 350 different bird species, about 80 mammals as well as 5-6 primate species can be found in the park.
The Research Station
The field station is located in the southeast of Senegal (N 13° 4’ O, W 12° 43’ O) on the territory of a ranger post. Our field workers live there together with the park rangers.
So far, our station comprises of two furnished huts, each with two rooms as well as a bathroom (shower & toilet). Furthermore, we have a generator and a fridge, and water is available from a well. We have recently bought a 4x4 pick-up car, and further solar panels, a field laboratory as well as the refurbishment of additional huts are planned. Meals are cooked twice a day by the post's cook.
The size of the study area is about 25km2. Habituation of a subgroup (about 80 Individuals) of a larger community of animals comprising a total of about 300 animals is under way. Part of the team are two Senegalese field assistants that have been trained in the forestry field.
Guinea Baboons (Papio hamadrays papio)
Guinea baboons live in savannahs and gallery forests of West-Africa.In contrast to all other Papio-taxa, this species has so far been rarely studied in the field. Group sizes vary from about 10 to 300 individuals. They presumably live in multi-male multi-female groups which are composed of several smaller units that split and meet again several times during the day (fission-fusion). In comparison to other Papio-taxa relationships among males seem to be exceptionally relaxed.
