Jeremiah Haidenthaller

Anthropology 2281- Primate Conservation program

11/25/2015
Introduction
There are many species of animal that have important ecological roles
in their ecosystems. When one or more species is threatened that ecosystem
is affected negatively. Conservation is an effort to preserve different species
and in turn their ecosystem. Primates are particularly important in their
ecosystems.
To preserve primates we have to understand their greatest threats. The
greatest threats to primates are hunting, and habitat loss. [Campbell, 2007]
Many efforts have been taken to protect primates from these threats such as putting controls on
hunting and setting aside sections of forest as sanctuaries to protect endangered species.
However these strategies requires sufficient financial funding and an alternative source of protein
to have the most amount of success. [Campbell, 2007] Some hands on approaches that have been
taken are managing wild populations and habitats, and captive breeding and reintroduction
programs. Research is a key factor in primate conservation because new discoveries can give
researchers critical information about primates and ecological communities, but these discoveries
can also attract local and international attention. [Campbell, 2007]

Body

The proboscis monkey (Nasalis lavartus) is one of the Asian colobines

that lives exclusively on the island of Borneo in mangrove swamps and
riverine forests. [Falk, 2000] Asian colobines have longer thumbs and ankles
than African colobines but shorter faces. Proboscis monkeys are named for
their extraordinary noses which are huge, protruberant, and fleshy drooping
down over the mouth in males. Females have smaller (but still massive)
noses than males. In infants the nose is slightly up turned. Their massive
noses are accentuated by narrowly set eyes and a bare pink face. [Falk,
2000] No one can explain the reason for this dramatic looking nose but it is
thought to be a result of sexual selection by females that might find this
feature particularly attractive in males. Today there is less mystery about the
function of large noses males in the present day use these noses to make
loud aggressive honks that can be heard from great distances. Proboscis
monkeys are large and have high sexual dimorphism in the species with
males weighing about twice as much as females. Females usually weigh
about 10kg or 22lbs. [Falk, 2000] Old world monkeys have ischial callosities
or butt calluses, on female proboscis monkeys they are separated while the
ones on males are fused. [Falk, 2000] In both sexes body fur is a
combination of reds, browns, greys, and creams. [Falk, 2000] All colobines
have widely spaced orbits; narrow incisors; high, sharp cusps on the molars;
short, broad faces; deep jaws; large multi-chambered stomachs for
processing leaves; and long legs and tails. Proboscis monkey differ with
narrowly set eyes. [Falk, 2000] Proboscis monkeys are reported to be

selective feeders preferring young leaves, fruits and seeds despite their
relatively large body size. The large multi-chambered stomachs are able to
break down the cellulose in leaves. Cellulose is much harder to break down
than other food sources. The patchy distribution of this diet is probably
related to unusually large home ranges. [Falk, 2000]
Proboscis monkeys are diurnal (active during the day) and are basically
arboreal quadrupeds. However they have a wide variety of locomotor
methods such as leaping with outstretched arms; hanging by the hands and
moving on the ground. Surprisingly too they are good swimmers that dive
and swim under water. [Falk, 2000] Among colobines proboscis monkeys
have a very unique two-tiered social system. They either live in all-male or
uni-male groups with extensively overlapping home ranges (the first tier).
The second tier in their social system is that specific uni-male groups join
together frequently in instances like when groups settle down by a river for
the night. [Falk, 2000] Also the composition of one male groups is somewhat
flexible because males and females may leave their natal groups, with males
leaving more than females. [Falk, 2000] Even though proboscis monkey are
highly sexually dimorphic different groups are not territorial and therefore do
not into aggressive group confrontations. It does seem though that certain
groups tend to avoid each other. [Falk, 2000] According to the IUCN red list
proboscis monkeys are classified as endangered. Currently there are
estimated to be 1000 or less in some areas but in greater abundance in
Borneo. This species is listed as endangered and many areas where it is

found are protected but there is not a lot of funding to enforce the
protection. [Meijaard, 2008]
Proboscis monkeys in some areas areas are hunted for food and feed or bait for crocodiles
and large lizards. [Gron, 2009] To reduce hunting and using Nasalis larvatus as bait. Bush meat
hunters can instead raise rabbits and keep them in hutches. Providing an alternative has been
attempted in Africa with an attempted intense breeding program of rats that were already being
eatend and beef has been suggested. The breeding program with the rats had mixed success and
the locals tend to like the taste of bush meat more than beef. Bush meat has high value as well
because of cultural values. This works best coupled with education and awareness programs.
[Jones-Bowen, 1999] The bush meat market in Malabo was monitored for 24 months to see how
many primates and other species were being hunted and efforts were made by non-government
organizations to have patrols to enforce hunting. These efforts were less affective though without
the help from the government. [Albrechtsen, 2007]
I chose this idea because rabbits are larger than rats and reproduce at a very rapid rate
making them a sustainable protein source. Hutches can take up very little space as well so people
wont have to surrender a lot of land. Some weaknesses with this proposal are that the rabbits
would have to be imported and if some escaped because of their rapid reproduction rate they
could begin to invade the ecosystem. On the other hand you would a small amount of rabbits to
start with and they are not very expensive to feed. This could benefit the local population a lot
with a low cost sustainable alternate protein source. The forests could then begin to grow even
more because of the reduction of hunting. Each rabbit farmer would need anywhere from $1000$1500 to start and it would cost anywhere from $50-$200 a month for up keep. Organizations
such as the National Wildlife Federation and World Wildlife Fund could come together to fund

this conservation project. These organizations should fund my conservation program because
helping the proboscis monkey would help to keep the forests in Borneo alive and well and help
the rest of the ecosystem.
Conclusion
The IUCN is a conservation organization that works to preserve the worlds bio diversity.
The Red List is a list of different species that are threatened. It shows the habitat, ecology,
threats, and other traits for a description of each species on the list. The categories are listed in
order from not evaluated (NE), data deficient (DD), least concern (LC), near threatened (NT),
vulnerable (VU), endangered (EN), Critically endangered (CR), extinct in the wild (EW), extinct
(EX). The criteria for the Red List consists of range, population, population trends, habitat and
ecology, and major threats. The assessment process is when the IUCN evaluate the status of a
species and the petitions process is the submission of a species for assessment. [Support the].
Primates have a value that can be recognized. They have ecological, economic, and
scientific value. Ecologically primates are seed spreaders and pollinators they are also predators
to plants and seeds. Larger bodied primate are particularly valuable dispersing agents to seeded
plants. [Hill, 2002] live and bush meat trade has become strong part of some countries
economies. The fact that primates are so similar to us gives a scientific value to help us better
understand ourselves. Also large animals like primates are good charismatic symbols to help
conservation programs to promote awareness. [Hill, 2002] The world would suffer a huge loss of
biodiversity if primates arent conserved. Primatologists should be concerned with conservation
issues because they understand more than anyone just how important primates to ecosystems,
forests, biodiversity and further understanding about ourselves.
Reference list

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hunting: empirical evidence and policy implications in Bioko Island. Environmental Science &
Policy 10:654667.
Campbell CJ, Fuentes A, MacKinnon KC, Panger M, Bearder SK. 2007. Conservation. In:
Primates in perspective. New York: Oxford University Press. p 469506.
Falk D, Byram J. 2000. Colobines. In: Primate diversity. New York: W.W. Norton & Co. p 188
191.
Gron K. 2009. Proboscis monkeyNasalis larvatus. Primate Factsheets: Proboscis monkey
(Nasalis larvatus) Conservation [Internet]. Available from:
http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/proboscis_monkey/cons
Hill CM. 2002. Primate Conservation and Local CommunitiesEthical Issues and Debates.
American Anthropologist 104:11841194.
Jones-Bowen E, Pendry S. 1999. The threat to primates and other mammals from the bushmeat
trade in Africa, and how this threat could be diminished*. Oryx ORX 33:233246.

Meijaard, E., Nijman, V. & Supriatna, J. 2008. Nasalis larvatus. The IUCN Red
List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T14352A4434312
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015-4.
<www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 25 November 2015.