Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii)Population Density and Abundance in Kibira National Park,Burundi

Successful conservation and management strategy of wild animals usually starts by assessing their population size. This is of particular relevance in areas submitted to long periods of human conflicts which is the case of Burundi. A census of chimpanzee populations was made throughout Kibira National Park between September 2011 and February 2013 to provide reliable information on density estimates of chimpanzees inhabiting the forest. The method was based on marked nest counts from line transects which allowed the calculation of population densities of all weaned individuals. We recorded a total of 471 chimpanzee nests in four sectors of the park (Mabayi 290 nests, Rwegura 68 Teza 65 and Musigati 48). We derived an estimate of the total population of 203 (122-339) weaned chimpanzees in the whole park. We discuss that result in perspective of necessiry of future research on chimpanzees in Burundi. First, implementation of a monitoring program of chimpanzee is necessary to constitute a database, as well as collecting data of tree phenology on which chimpanzee depend. Second, an effective transboundary strategic plan to conserve Kibira-Nyungwe as one landscape is necessary to maintain viable population of chimpanzees.