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Rare Long‐Term Data Reveal the Seasonal Dietary Plasticity of Mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) in Response to Fruiting Tree Phenology/Des données rares à long terme révèlent la plasticité saisonnière du régime alimentaire des mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) en réponse à la phénologie des arbres fruitiers.

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Abstract / Résumé EN –  The study of dietary plasticity in primates provides valuable insights into their ability to adapt to environmental pressures. The mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), an iconic species of Gabon, stands out due to the formation of mega-groups that can reach up to 1,000 individuals, a social organization that intensifies competition for food resources. In the context of habitat loss and climate change, understanding the dietary flexibility of mandrills becomes essential for guiding conservation strategies. A recent study conducted in Lopé National Park relied on eight years of rare data, combining fecal analysis and fruit availability monitoring to assess this adaptive capacity. Marked Preferences but Great Flexibility The results reveal that mandrills favor fruits, which form the basis of their diet. Their consumption peaks when these resources are abundant. However, during periods of scarcity, they adjust their diet by incorporating more animal prey, leav...
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Protected Water Areas and Illegal Activities on Gabon’s Coastline

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Protected Water Areas and Illegal Activities on Gabon’s Coastline Aires protégées aquatiques et activités interlopes sur le littoral gabonais Abstract / Résumé EN – Since 2002, Gabon has been committed to a policy of biodiversity conservation through institutional and legal efforts to regulate and manage maritime areas. Interest in the maritime and coastal domains has led to the creation of Aquatic Protected Areas (APAs), ecosystems that are home to unique reservoirs of biodiversity. Thanks to these tools, Gabon aims to sustainably exploit and conserve its marine and coastal resources. However, this determination is undermined by a variety of illegal activities. The aim of this article is to reveal the main illegal uses perpetrated in the APAs and the means to counter them. For this purpose, a literature review was carried out, as well as fieldwork based on semi-directive interviews with administrative agents, economic promoters and local residents of APAs. FR – Depuis 2002, le G...
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Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Plants Consumed by Western Lowland Gorillas in Gabon

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Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities of Plants Consumed by Western Lowland Gorillas in Gabon Activités antibactériennes et antioxydantes des plantes consommées par les gorilles des plaines de l’Ouest au Gabon Abstract / Résumé EN – This study explores the medicinal potential of plants consumed by western lowland gorillas ( Gorilla gorilla gorilla ) in Gabon’s Moukalaba-Doudou National Park. Four species ( Ceiba pentandra , Myrianthus arboreus , Ficus spp., and Milicia excelsa ) were analyzed for their antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Antioxidant activity was measured using DPPH radical scavenging, phosphomolybdenum, and β-carotene bleaching assays. Antibacterial tests targeted multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli strains using diffusion and microdilution methods to determine inhibition zones, MIC, and MBC values. Results revealed significant antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in all plant extracts, with notable levels of phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, and proa...
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Free, Prior, Informed Consent and Protected Area Creation in Gabon Le consentement libre, informé, préalable et la création d’une aire protégée au Gabon Abstract / Résumé EN – Gabon is committed to increasing nature protection by 30% by 2030, in line with the Global Biodiversity Framework. In this context, a new consultation process has been launched around the Plateaux Batéké National Park, using the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) approach. A total of 51 interviews were conducted, and a combined thematic and quantitative analysis was carried out to compare the consultation process used in 2002 with that of 2022. The results show that, although the consultation is well-intentioned, the conditions do not currently allow for a meaningful and effective consultation process. FR – Le Gabon s’est engagé à accroître la protection de la nature à hauteur de 30 % d’ici 2030, conformément au Cadre mondial de la biodiversité. Dans ce cadre, une nouvelle consultation a été lancée a...
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Characterization of Beach Seine Fishing in the Mandji-Etimboué Aquatic Reserve (Gabon) Caractérisation de la pêche à la senne de plage dans la Réserve Aquatique de Mandji-Etimboué (Gabon) Abstract / Résumé EN – The conservation of marine biodiversity and the establishment of aquatic protected areas have become a global challenge. Thus, the continued use of non-selective fishing gear requires a comprehensive and ongoing assessment. With this in mind, the catch rates and socio-economic aspects of beach seine fishing in the Mandji-Etimboué Aquatic Reserve (AR) were examined using landing monitoring as a methodological approach. The results showed that the average catch per unit effort (CPUE) of beach purse seiners is 393.29 kg/seine haul . Comparative analysis between CPUE in 2017 and 2021 showed a decrease of 490.9 kg/fishing trip in the rainy season and an increase of 5.08 kg/fishing trip in the dry season. The decrease in fishing effort and increase in CPUE in this Mandji-Etimb...
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Location: Mandji, Gabon
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  Length-weight relationships of 13 fish species from Akanda National Park in Gabon, Central Africa English This study provides the length-weight relationships (LWRs) for 13 fish species belonging to 10 families. Samples were collected in the mangrove area of Akanda National Park (ANP) in Gabon between May 2017 and March 2018 with fishing trammel gillnets (15 m long and 1.10 m high, 100 mm large mesh outer layers, and one 10, 27, and 40 mm small mesh each net). Fish total length and total weight were measured, with the precision of 1 mm and 1 g, respectively. The LWRs parameters for the 13 fish species had not yet been reported in FishBase for Central Africa. Our study provides large size ranges for  Monodactylus sebae  and  Pseudotolithus senegalensis  LWRs for Central Africa. The determination coefficient (r²) between total length and total body weight ranged from 0.946 ( Pellonula leonensis ) to 0.999 ( Pseudotolithus senegalensi...
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Real-time alerts from AI-enabled camera traps using the Iridium satellite network : A case-study in Gabon, Central Africa.

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  English Gabon, a Central African country, has long proven to be a fruitful testing ground for camera trap technology. The wealth of data generated means that there are large datasets from various projects. In this study, they built the real-time alert system by modifying standard camera traps (Bushnell™) ready to use. The system uses communication through the Iridium satellite network, it works even in remote areas without a telephone signal or without reliable Wi-Fi. The results show that the alert system can work for at least 3 months in the absence of humans when capturing a median of 17.23 images per day. The median time difference between taking images and receiving an alert was about 7,35 min, although some outliers showed delays of 5 days or more when the system was incorrectly installed initially and unable to connect to the Iridium satellite network. These models of artificial intelligence and the addition of other sensors such as microphones will expand the potential of...
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