Revista de ecosistemas y ecografía

Abstracto

Aggregation Influence of African Grey Parrots (Psittacus erithacus) On Environmental Exploitation in Limbe Botanic Garden, Southwest Region, Cameroon

Melle Ekane Maurice

Aggregation formation in parrots is a survival strategy that contributes to social and individual activities. Navigation to different feeding locations and continental migration to avoid environmental stress factors such as winter has been achieved in birds through their social organization and group formation. Formation of strong groups in birds like the parrots enables them to reach food locations, defend themselves, mate, and learn from one another. The aim of this study was to examine the importance of group formation to the social activities of African grey parrots in Limbe Botanic Garden. Data collection was carried out for three months, and involved a daily data recording method from 8:00 am-5:00 pm together with some environmental factors. Results revealed a positive significance between African grey parrot groups and their behavior, X2 = 97.555 df=16 P=0.000. The highest observation on parrot-grouping behavior was on 2 parrots 57% and the least was 6 parrots 1%. More so, group behavior revealed a weak significance X2 = 4.671 df=4 P<0.05 on photoperiod. Additionally, bird groups recorded significance X2 = 3.773 df=12 P<0.05, and X2 = 14.958 df=12 P<0.05 on atmospheric conditions and food resources respectively. The grey parrots have a craving feeding love for oil palm fruits, and since the area is rich in oil palm, the highest feeding observation was recorded on fruits 74%, leaves 18%, insects 4%, and seeds 4% respectively. Parrots’ morphological plumage beautiful attraction and their capacity to mimic human and other sounds have won them great human love for pet domestication, a situation that has widen the international pet-trade. Captive breeding of the grey parrots is done in some countries such as Cameroon at a small scale, meaning there is need for more research to be carried out for their population enhancement. Protection of the grey parrots is important to the conservation world, and a decreasing population of this bird species in Cameroon has urged the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife to restrict its harvesting for pet-trade market by classifying it as class “A” wildlife species that should not be harvested. Additionally, IUCN has documented this species of parrot in the red data list category as endangered, meaning its population is alarmingly reducing and needs an urgent conservation management strategy. This study recommends a detail and comprehensive inventory research on its population, behavior, feeding, and social ecology.