TITLE:
Local People’s Knowledge, Perceptions and Attitudes towards Chimpanzee Habitat Preferences around Douala-Edéa National Park, Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Mvo Denis Chuo, Sime Tchuenche Winny Laeticia, Jean Pascal Koh Dimbot, Theodore B. Mayaka
KEYWORDS:
Chimpanzee, Conservation, Douala-Edéa National Park, Human-Wildlife Conflict, Local Ecological Knowledge
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Ecology,
Vol.16 No.10,
October
19,
2026
ABSTRACT: Local people-wildlife interactions and local knowledge are central to the effective conservation of endangered species and their habitats preferences. In Cameroon, the Central chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes) is classified as endangered and persists in fragmented forest landscapes including the Douala-Edéa National Park (DENP), where growing human needs have exerted immense pressure on their natural habitats resulting to habitat loss and land-use changes that threaten their survival. However, there is limited empirical information on how local people living around the park perceive chimpanzee habitat preferences, understand ecological relationships, and how their knowledge and attitudes influence support for conservation. This study assessed local people’s knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward chimpanzee habitat preferences in villages adjacent to the DENP. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions involving 251 respondents across twelve villages focusing on respondents’ awareness of chimpanzee habitat characteristics, perceived factors driving habitat selection and attitudes toward chimpanzees and habitat protection. Data analysis were done using Microsoft Excel 2013 and R software version 4.1.0. Results indicate that 98.8% of local people possess substantial knowledge of chimpanzee habitat preferences, identifying dense forests (86.8%) as primary habitat preference. Seasonal movements toward farmland during fruiting periods were reported by 61.3% of respondents. Perceptions of chimpanzees were influenced by cultural beliefs, human-wildlife interactions, and land-use changes. Majority of respondents 88% expressed positive attitudes toward conservation of chimpanzees. Despite conflicts, 69% of respondents indicated willingness to support conservation measures if livelihoods were safeguarded. The study highlights the value of integrating local people’s knowledge into conservation planning and the need for community-based strategies to mitigate human-chimpanzee conflict, thereby promoting coexistence and sustainable protection of chimpanzee habitats.