Belgium
Review Article
West African Manatee Trichechus senegalensis (LINK, 1795) in the Estuary
of the Congo River (Democratic Republic of the Congo): Review and Update
Author(s): Anne L, Marcel C, Bruno M, Philippe T, Carine M, Steve N, Aurore G, Philippe H, Baudouin M, Wim W, Herwig L, Natalie VH, Micha JC and Erik VAnne L, Marcel C, Bruno M, Philippe T, Carine M, Steve N, Aurore G, Philippe H, Baudouin M, Wim W, Herwig L, Natalie VH, Micha JC and Erik V
The West African manatee Trichechus senegalensis (LINK, 1795) is the least studied Sirenian species, with both old and fragmentary literature on the population in the Congo River estuary. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, T. senegalensis occurs up to 60 km upstream around Boma town, a zone under partial protection of the Marine Mangrove Park. In order to develop efficient conservation actions, there is an urgent need to revise the state of knowledge on the species in the Congolese part of its distribution range. This paper reviews the current status and distribution of T. senegalensis populations in the Congo River estuary based on geolocated observations (N=33), and provides a summary of local communities’ knowledge, attitude and practices of the manatees ’ecosystem services (e.g.: river dredging, touristic potential). The reported potential threats-poaching, habit.. Read More»
DOI:
10.4172/2332-2543.1000181
Journal of Biodiversity & Endangered Species received 624 citations as per Google Scholar report