Global Journal of Science Frontier Research, D: Agriculture and Veterinary, Volume 21 Issue 7

V. R esult and D iscusion The result of the study are presented in Tables 1,2,3 4 and 5. Table 1, shows the result of absolute densities of primate in the study area. A total of three species of primate were censused in the reserve. The result indicated that the absolute densities for primate were baboon (0.17/km 2 ), Patas monkey (0.28/km 2 ) and Tantalus monkey (0.021/km 2 ) the result shows that Patas monkey had the highest occurrence per square kilometer while Baboon has the least. The result of absolute" population densities of the primate species, are indicative of their status in the forest reserve. This observation agreed with Dost and Dandelot (1990) report of primates characteristic of northern guinea Savanna. However, when the result is compared with what was obtained by Gawaisa (1997) for Baboon (2.62/km 2 ), Tantalus (1.36/km 2 ) and Patas (0.34km 2 ) in Gashaka Gumti National Park, the population of primates in Bagale for estreserve may be said to be low. The primate species population result from this is an indication of the fact that one or more of the factors that negatively affects wildlife population are in operation in the reserve. This situation must have resulted from illegal removal of wood resources from the reserve for fuel wood and building as well as extension of agricultural land into the reserve resulting in total clearing of wood plants upon which the primates depend for both food and cover. The record of daily sighting are presented in Table 2 to 4. In transect 1 (Table 2) out of a total of 566 sightings, S41 (96%) were in “group” 18 (3%) were “solitary” and 7 (1%) uncertain, while in transect 2(Table 3) out of a total of 356 sightings 338 (94.9%) were in “group” 18 (5.5%) were solitary and none uncertain. In transect 3 (Table 4) shows that for a total of 387 sightings 371 (95.9%) were in “group” 14 (3%) were “Solitary” and 2 (0.52%) were uncertain. Result of food preference ranking (Table 5) indicates the food plants (fnut) preferred by primates in the reserve. Baboon mostly feed on the fruits of Vitex doniana, followed by Annona senegalensis and Ziziphus mauntiana Patas monkey preferred the fruits of Annona senegaless followed by Detarium microcapun while Tantalus monkey mostly fed on the fruits of Detarium microcapum and Prospis africana. All primates in Bagale forest reserve utilized fruit of Annona senegalensis as indicated in the Table. VI. C onclusion The results of this study shows that the Bagale Forest reserve contains representative sample of primates found in the Savanna ecosystem. The status of the primates when compared with what obtains in similar ecosystem of the Savanna indicates that the primates' populations in the reserve are low. The low population is not unconnected with high incidence of poaching, and deforestation of the reserve. Result of the food preference study showed that the three primate species selected Annona Senegalenois as food vitex domiana and Ziziphus mauntiana were preferred by Baboon, patas monkey preferred Detarium microcapum in addition to Anona Senegalensis while Tantalus monkey fed mostly on Detarium microcapum and prosopis africana. Table 1: Estimate of primates population in Bagale Forest Reserve Primate Absolute densities No/km 2 Baboon (Papio Anubis) 0.17 Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus patas) 0.28 Tantalus Monkey (Cercopithecus tantalus) 0.12 Table 2: Type of sighting of primate species at transect 1 in the study area Species Group Solitary Uncertain Total Baboon 170 10 5 185 Patas Monkey 211 6 0 217 Tantalus Monkey 160 2 2 164 Total 541 18 7 566 Table 3: Sighting of primate species at transect II in the study area Species Group Solitary Uncertain Total Baboon 83 1 0 84 Patas Monkey 165 14 0 170 Tantalus Monkey 90 3 0 93 Total 338 18 0 356 1 Global Journal of Science Frontier Research Volume XXI Issue VII Year 2021 29 ( D ) © 2021 Global Journals Version I Primate Population Census and Feeding Preference in Bagale Forest Reserve of Adamawa State, Nigeria