Interspecific Cohabitation and Associated Zoonotic Risk in the Burrows of Niokolo‐Koba National Park, Senegal

ABSTRACT

In arid and semi‐arid ecosystems, burrows serve as vital sanctuaries providing wildlife shelter, nourishment, and thermal buffering. These benefits attract multiple species into confined spaces, potentially facilitating interspecific pathogen transmission. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of burrow use in Senegal's Niokolo‐Koba National Park, quantifying interspecific cohabitation, identifying influential characteristics, and documenting the potential for zoonotic pathogen transmission. Data were collected during two dry‐season campaigns, which included semi‐opportunistic searches of burrows for camera‐trap monitoring and collection of fecal and tick samples. Cameras detected entering species while samples targeted bacteria with zoonotic potential. Across 1519 camera‐trap days, 32 species were detected using burrows, generating 172 interspecific cohabitations. Each cohabitation represented a species pair entering at least one common entrance during monitoring. An average of 6 different cohabitations per entrance over 20 days was recorded, with a maximum of 5 species visiting the same entrance within 24 h. Occupation occurred in rapid succession rather than simultaneously. Twenty significant preferential cohabitations were identified, ranging from ecological partnerships to predator–prey co‐occurrences. Based on the characteristics recorded for 105 monitored entrances, larger entrance diameter, higher woody cover, and location in valleys were associated with higher cohabitation rates. Pathogen screening detected potential zoonotic bacteria, including Treponema . Ticks were found in half of sampled burrows, with Francisella consistently detected. Results underline the dual ecological and epidemiological roles of burrows, emphasizing the need to integrate One Health considerations into burrow conservation.