Home range and habitat use of the black-bellied pangolin, Phataginus tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1776) (Mammalia Manidae) in the Voluntary Nature Reserve of the Tanoe-Ehy Swamp Forest (Côte d’Ivoire)

The black-bellied pangolin, Phataginus tetradactyla (Linnaeus, 1776) (Mammalia Manidae) is among the less studied pangolins species occurring in West Africa. That situation renders any conservation action related to this species relatively impossible. This study aims to estimate home range size and habitat use of P. tetradactyla in the Voluntary Nature Reserve of the Tanoe-Ehy Swamp Forest. We used the recce method to detect and capture pangolin specimens. We radio-tagged pangolins using VHF transmitter. We characterized pangolins habitats in order to identify available and used habitats by pangolins in their home ranges. We recorded 148 location points to successfully estimate home range for five specimens, including males, females, juveniles and adults. Recorded points ranged from 19 to 47. Means estimated KDE (Kernel Density Estimation) 95 % was 123.7±487.1 ha (Min=30.74 ha; Max = 260.41 ha) and KDE 50 % was 30.01±21.01 ha (Max=62.63 ha; Min=7.86 ha). For MCP (Minimum Convex Polygon) 95 % and 50 %, means estimated values were respectively 29.76±20.42 ha (Max=53.41 ha; Min=9.78 ha) and 10.66±9.79 ha (Max=23.82 ha; Min=1.92 ha). Pangolins home range covered three habitat types: Gallery Forest, Seasonal Flooded Forest and Marsh Forest. The most available and used habitats were GF and SFF. Also, the most selected habitats were GF and SFF. Regarding to their home range sizes and threats identified in their habitats, necessary actions need to be considered to solve pangolin conservation problem in the reserve.