Conservation Status of Geoffroy’s Pied Colobus Monkey Colobus vellerosus Geoffroy 1834 has Dramatically Declined in Côte D’Ivoire

Abstract

Geoffroy’s pied or white-thighed colobus Colobus vellerosus is one of two black-and-white colobus species in West Africa. It ranges from the Bandama River in Côte d’Ivoire to western Nigeria and has been listed as “Vulnerable” in the IUCN Red List. From 2000 to 2006 we conducted surveys in nine protected forests and local community forests in Côte d’Ivoire to gather information on the status of primate populations within these forests. Our main focus was the status of C. vellerosus. To complete information on its status, we also gathered the most recent data from surveys conducted in other range countries of the species. In Côte d’Ivoire, C. vellerosus was found only in local community forests and not in national parks or forest reserves. A similar situation is reported from other countries. It seems that only a few isolated populations, restricted to small forest patches, still exist in all of these countries. Taking currently available information into account, the conservation status of Colobus vellerosus needs to be revised; we suggest listing it at least as Endangered at the global level and Critically Endangered at the Côte d’Ivoire level.