An estimate of the population and the worth in monetary terms of Derby Eland and other Big Game in 

 BNP was calculated. The Derby Eland population in Benoué National Park is 45 animals which are 

 estimated at a unit value of US $ 2,390.9 1 (cost of harvesting or shooting one Derby Eland species by a 

 sport hunter according to the stipulations in the text (Delegation MESIEF Garoua, (2005) gives a value 

 of US $ 784,253.34. Table 3 below shows the estimated economic value for some big game in Benoue 

 Natioanl Park. 



Table 3: Estimated economic value from Big Game in Benoue National Park from January - May 

 2005 



US $ 1 = 550 F CFA 



Total annual worth of the park in Derby Eland and other Big game 



annual revenue contribution from Derby Eland = 1 3.72% 



US $ 933,572.01. Percentage 



DISCUSSION 



The density (the number of animals per unit area uniformly distributed in space) of big games in Benoué 

 National Park is generally low. From the epidemiological point of view, the low presence presents 

 fewer risks for the big game provided, however, that the density levels of all the other species in the Park 

 at any one time are held constant. Such a density also assumes there is no migration of big game from 

 one Park to another. Furthermore, low animal population densities, especially for endangered species 

 improve the chances of their survival as this allows for a steady and convenient protection of the 

 ecosystem through natural vegetation and regeneration. Such a situation is beneficial to the Benoué 

 National Park which is located in the semi arid region where the big games do not benefit from 

 professional maintenance. 



The biomass estimate of Derby Eland in Benoué National Park is high 12.7 kg/ km^ Derby Elands are 

 secondary consumers and in the food chain are at a high trophic level. Going by the general assumption 

 that, the biomass of each trophic level decreases as the trophic level increases, this higher biomass can 

 be an indication that the primary producers on which the Derby Eland depends are more or less thriving 

 well in BNP probably during the period of this study. Previous research by Tsague (1994), WWF 

 (1998), Stark (1986) and Assan and Mahop (2000) report the same trend in the density and biomass of 

 Derby Eland in Benoué. Such results could serve as a wake up call for better big game management. The 

 disparity in the results may be attributed to the absence of observation of certain herbivores like the 

 hippopotamus and buffalo which contributed significantly in the estimates of the previous authors 

 which were not included in the present study. Moreover, the total surface area covered during the 

 census, the timing and location are different. In this study a greater biomass contribution in terms of 

 total percentage came from the Elephant (92.58%) and Derby Eland (6.65%). All these species feed and 

 live in a flock or herd migrating locally from one park to another influenced by anthropogenic 

 disturbance in the system (fire, poaching, sport hunting). 



The abundance of animal species in the Benoué National Park is 0.65 (high). This shows that there is a 



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