Medium and large-sized mammals worldwide are facing a critical survival challenge due to human activities. In Mont Sangbé National Park (MSNP) in western Côte d’Ivoire, medium and large-sized mammals are frequently sighted in the natural salt licks of the savanna zone, yet there is limited knowledge regarding this fauna. This study seeks to assess the diversity of mammals in the park’s natural salt licks and evaluate potential threats posed by human activities. We employed camera trapping and reconnaissance walks at these natural salt licks to collect data. During reconnaissance walks, 58 signs of medium and large mammals were observed, including feces, footprints, feeding remnants et burrows. A total of 19 species of medium and large-sized mammals, distributed across six (06) orders and 11 families, were identified. Among these species, six (06) were directly observed during reconnaissance walks, and 16 were observed with camera traps. Fifteen of the observed species are classified as least concerned, one is near threatened and three are vulnerable according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Furthermore, we documented evidence of human activities near the salt licks, underscoring significant anthropogenic threats to these species. Comprehensive research covering all MSNP natural salt licks and accounting for seasonal variations is essential for gaining a deeper understanding of the ecology of mammals frequenting these areas and ensuring their preservation.

In Ivory Coast, the decade of politico-military crisis has led to the degradation of national parks, After this crisis, knowledge of the wildlife diversity of these forests is needed to propose appropriate conservation measures. For this purpose, this study was conducted in the Mount Péko National Park (MPNP), located in western Ivory Coast. It aims to inventory the means and large mammals, to establish their spatial distributions and to determine their conservation status as well as the threats of human activities that weigh on them. The methodology used consisted first of all in surveys with the managers of the park and the local populations in order to have data on the fauna of the region. Pedestrian surveys inside the park were organized. At the end of this study, ten (10) species belonging to four (4) orders and six (6) species from (2) orders respectively of large and medium mammals were confirmed from direct and indirect observations. Most of these species occur in the surveyed areas except Cercopithecus campbelli, Civettictis civetta, Procavia capensis found only in the north and Syncerus caffer nanus observed only south of the park. Among the large mammal species, in addition to Loxodonta africana (VU), Pan troglodytes verus (EN) and Cephalophus sylvicultor (NT), all other species are listed in the category of Least Concerned (LC), according to IUCN. Similarly, apart from Phataginus tricuspis classified as Vulnerable (VU), all species of mammalian means are included in the LC category. However, the sustainable conservation of these mammals is threatened by various anthropogenic activities within the MPNP. In order to safeguard the biodiversity of the park, it is necessary to implement the management and management plan of the park, to involve all the stakeholders in the actions of monitoring, communication for a change of behavior and in real management MPNP. Scientific studies and ecological monitoring activities will need to be carried out to collect more comprehensive data as a tool to guide the sustainable management of MPNP.