Conservation of Pangolins in the Dahomey Gap: Ecology, Ethnozoology, and Genetics

The "Dahomey Gap" is a natural break in the West African rainforest, creating a savanna corridor that stretches to the coast of Benin, Togo, and eastern Ghana. This geographical peculiarity has fostered the development of unique biodiversity, but also the emergence of extremely fragile ecosystems.

In this unique geographical context lies the pangolin, one of the most poached mammals in the world. In his thesis defended in 2022, Stanislas Zanvo offers a comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of this animal in the Dahomey corridor.

A Multidisciplinary Approach

The complexity of biodiversity protection in West Africa requires going beyond mere biological data. The author has therefore employed a range of cross-disciplinary methodologies:

• Spatial ecology to understand the distribution and remaining habitats.
• Conservation genetics (and molecular ecology) to analyze the genetic diversity of isolated pangolin populations in this corridor.
• Ethnozoology to understand the intimate and cultural relationship local populations have with the animal.

The Pangolin: Between Bushmeat and Sacred Animal

In Benin, particularly in the south (around Ouidah and Abomey), the pangolin is more than just game. It holds a special place in traditional pharmacopoeia and certain initiation rites. Its scales are often used for medicinal or spiritual purposes.

The ethnozoological approach of the thesis deciphers how survival hunting, local beliefs, and international poaching intertwine. To protect the species from extinction, it is impossible to ignore the cultural (and sometimes sacred) dimension the animal holds for the local communities.

Towards Integrated Conservation

Stanislas Zanvo's study highlights the urgency of protecting the last forest strongholds of the Dahomey Gap. Genetic results show that habitat fragmentation endangers the genetic mixing of the species.

However, the conclusions primarily call for integrated conservation: nature protection that includes and respects local populations, reconciling global imperatives for the preservation of endangered species with West African socio-economic realities.

Academic Reference & Citation

If you wish to cite this research in an academic context, please use the following reference:

Stanislas Zanvo. Evaluation of the conservation status of pangolins in the Dahomey Gap through spatial and molecular ecology, ethnozoology, and conservation genetics. 2022. French.

Summary and adaptation proposed by Ouidah Origins.

Related Pillars & Further Reading

On Ouidah Origins: The Sacred Forest

External Sources:

• Article on the Dahomey Gap