As a behavioural ecologist, I’m working on the evolution of sociality in primate societies through individually-based, longitudinal follow-ups. I am interested in the major determinants of social relationships (such as kin relationships or parasitic status) as well as the proximal factors that regulate these relationships (odours, visual appearance). Behavioural observations, genetic, parasitic and eco-physiological analyzes, but also the use of artificial intelligence, constitute the various tools that help to answer my research questions.
In 2012, I have founded the “Mandrillus Project”, a field-station located in Southern Gabon (Lékédi Park, Bakoumba) to study the only natural population of habituated mandrills –Mandrillus sphinx– worldwide. Since 2012, my research assistants (around 10 people), my collaborators and I have accumulated tens of thousands of hours of observations as well as different life-history parameters on more than 300 mandrills, from their birth to their death/dispersal/sexual maturity.