Primate surveys in Côte d'Ivoire's Sassandra–Bandama interfluvial region with notes on a remnant population of black‐and‐white colobus

We conducted surveys in Côte d'Ivoire's Bandama–Sassandra interfluvial region to assess the abundance of primates and investigate further a population of black‐and‐white colobus monkey whose taxonomic position has been debated. Primates were encountered in five of eight forests surveyed. The most common primates were Campbell's guenons and lesser spot nosed monkeys. Roloway monkeys were located in one reserve (Dassioko FR), sooty mangabeys in two (Dassioko and Port Gauthier FR) and olive colobus in three reserves (Dassioko, Port Gauthier, Bakadou) as well as one forest patch was considered a sacred grove (Grébouo I FG). Red colobus and chimpanzees were never observed. The only black‐and‐white colobus encountered were located in a forest adjacent to the Grébouo I village. The coat of this population is similar to that of Colobus vellerosus; however, vocal data are more complex. In one vocal attribute, the Grébouo I colobus is similar to Colobus polykomos while in another it is similar to C. vellerosus. We hope that by investigating the taxonomy of the Grébouo 1 colobus population, highlighting the conservation value of sacred forests and advocating for more active law enforcement in protected reserves, we can prevent the extirpation of all primates within the Bandama–Sassandra interfluvial zone region.