Tanzam Highway: Does it Influence baboon's dietary breadth?

The Tanzania-Zambia (TANZAM) Highway traversing Mikumi National Park (MINAPA) has been a concern for wildlife managers since it was first paved in 1973-74. Nevertheless, documentation by researchers of increased traffic volume... [ view full abstract ]

The Tanzania-Zambia (TANZAM) Highway traversing Mikumi National Park (MINAPA) has been a concern for wildlife managers since it was first paved in 1973-74. Nevertheless, documentation by researchers of increased traffic volume and the consequent rise in animal injuries and mortalities followed later in 1989-90 when the road was upgraded. MINAPA baboons are known to use the road as their bridge to and from foraging areas, a tendency that threatens their lives through road accidents. In addition, road use could potentially alter their natural diet breadth and foraging behaviour. Using focal animal sampling techniques, we collected data on feeding and foraging behaviour of two habituated troops of yellow baboons to test the extent to which they feed on exotic road foods from the highway compared to natural diet. We found that, baboons spent most of their feeding time in natural habitats than on highway; and exotic road foods contributed less than 10% of baboons’ diet, nullifying the impression that they are dependent on the road resources. Currently, effect of road on their diet and foraging behaviour is slight, but in the future baboons may become more associated with the highway hence negatively impacting their behaviour. This may include becoming more interactive with people thus increasing chances of transmission of zoonotic diseases, or they may become more aggressive towards people carrying foods, consequently risking  lives  especially of tourists. Therefore, we recommend the park authority to also focus on educating people on how human modified environment can induce changes in baboons’ behaviour.