Mantled guereza

Systematic position: The mantled guereza (Colobus guereza), also known as the black-and-white colobus, belongs to the order Primates and the family Cercopithecidae. While generally recognized for its ecological role, in certain agricultural regions, this species is documented as a pest capable of causing significant economic losses to forestry and crop production.

Susceptible crops: These primates primarily target cultivated trees, showing a strong preference for coffee leaves, banana shoots, and various orchard fruits. When natural forest habitats are fragmented or food becomes scarce, they frequent agricultural lands to forage on nutrient-rich cultivated vegetation, leading to direct crop loss.

Biology and development: The guereza is an arboreal primate living in small, social groups. They have a slow reproductive rate, with females giving birth to one infant every two to three years. Despite this, their ability to adapt to human-modified landscapes allows them to persist near farms, where they take advantage of accessible, high-quality food sources found in managed plantations.

Nature of damage and pest status: The damage caused by guerezas is characterized by the systematic stripping of young leaves, bark, and terminal buds. This grazing behavior disrupts the plant’s physiological processes, often stunting growth and severely reducing fruit yields. Constant damage to the canopy also makes trees more susceptible to secondary fungal infections and parasitic infestations.

Protection measures: Managing guereza presence requires non-lethal, deterrent-based solutions that comply with ethical wildlife management standards. Recommended approaches include:

• Installing physical barriers and smooth anti-climb guards on trees.
• Utilizing automated acoustic and visual deterrents.
• Planting non-palatable "buffer" zones to steer the group away from commercial crops.
• Implementing habitat enrichment in nearby natural forests to discourage foraging in agricultural zones.