TITLE:
Non-Human Primate Injuries in the Mefou Primate Sanctuary of Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Wamba Gery, Akwanjoh Richard Seino, Njua-Yafi Clarisse
KEYWORDS:
Wild Animal Sanctuaries, Non-Human Primates, Fights, Wounds, Escapes, Risk Factors, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Access Library Journal,
Vol.12 No.5,
May
26,
2025
ABSTRACT: The Mefou Primate Sanctuary is one of the wild animal sanctuaries in Cameroon, located in the Centre Region and houses 277 non-human primates and 55 workers. There is little or no published data on non-human primate and primate-related human injuries in Cameroon sanctuaries. The injuries at the Mefou Primate Sanctuary were assessed and documented between January 04, 2020 to March 30, 2020. The types of injuries and their causes put in place were evaluated. The prevalence of injuries in non-human primates was (59.57%). The non-human primate species and sex had no significant influence on this prevalence, though injuries were more frequent amongst Pan troglodytes and males respectively. With regards to age, the prevalence of injuries was significantly higher in adults compared to adolescents and juveniles (P = 0.001, χ2 = 38,497). With regards to the types of injuries, lacerations were the most common. In the Mefou Primates Sanctuary, injuries caused by fights were significantly higher compared to other causes (P = 0.002, χ2 = 62,951). The degree of injuries together with their nature varied significantly with the habitat of non-human primates (P = 0.029, χ2 = 8,340). These injuries were higher amongst the non-human primates living in satellite cages compared to those in enclosures. Fighting was the main cause of injuries in NH primates at the Mefou Primate Sanctuary, with other far-reaching consequences like primate escapes and primate-related staff injuries.