Impact of Illegal Anthropogenic Activities on the Spatio-temporal Variations in the Distribution of the Defassa Waterbuck Population (Kobus ellipsiprymnus defassa, Rüppel, 1835) in the Classified Forest and Game Ranch of Nazinga, Burkina Faso

Abstract

The number of defassa waterbuck populations in the Nazinga Classified Forest and Game Ranch is declining. Few studies have been carried out on the distribution of this population. In general, the defassa waterbuck populations as well as other mammals are subject to abusive exploitation linked to anthropogenic activities. This study was to evaluate the influence of anthropogenic activities on the distribution of the defassa waterbuck population in the Nazinga Classified Forest after fourteen years (2006-2019) of collection. For this, the line transect method was used for the census of fauna and indices of the presence of anthropogenic activities. Thus, from these data, the numbers varied from 2434 individuals [95% CI (1074-5512)] in 2006 to 646 individuals [95% CI (292-1430)] in 2019 and the densities of 0.71 [95% CI (0.32) -1.57)] in 2019 to 2.67 [95% CI (1.18-6.04)] in 2006. This population remained a group from 2006 to 2019 in the conservation zone integral in search of tranquility. Indices of poaching, human presence and livestock significantly influence the numbers of this population over time. The results obtained will make it possible to develop the conservation and management plan for hunting resources aimed at preserving the wildlife diversity of the Ranch.