Primates in Peril

Daubentonia madagascariensis-Aye-aye

● Describe the species (e.g. what it looks like, how it behaves, etc.) and its distribution
(i.e. location).
○ Aye-Aye’s are typically shades of greys to shades of brown with forward facing
eyes. They are surprisingly the largest nocturnal primate. Their middle finger digit
is substantially longer than the others and is used for a tool. They have ever
growing incisors. Aye-Aye’s are know for being the most widely distributed
lemur. All the way from Montagne d’Ambre in the north, to Parc National
d’Andohahela in the south, and Parc National Tsingy de Bemaraha in the west of
Madagascar.
● Describe the major threats facing the species.
○ Although Aye-Aye’s are widely distributed they remain solitary among their
homes ranges, this is problematic because their biggest threat is habit loss. With
the growing amount of deforestation and slash and burn agriculture. It is also
known for local communities to kill Aye-Aye’s when seen, out of fear that they
are related with death.
● Describe the proposed conservation actions that are needed.
○ There was not a clear proposed conservation action mentioned for the Aye-Aye.
Aside from in my opinion, trying to slow and limit deforestation to small and
specific areas of the forests.
Pongo pygmaeus -Bornean orangutan
● Describe the species (e.g. what it looks like, how it behaves, etc.) and its distribution
(i.e. location).
○ Bornean Orangutan are a orange tinted brown color. With grasping hands and
feet and forward facing eyes. They have large brains for their body size and
nostrils that face downward. These orangutan’s are diurnal as well as arboreal.
They are restricted to Southeast Asia the island of Borneo. Where they live in
lowlands of the Muller-Schwaner mountain chain.
● Describe the major threats facing the species.
○ Habitat Loss- 39% of their forests were cleared for palm oil plantations. Other
parts of their peat-swamp forests were ruined because of gigantic forest fires. The
peat-swamps were drained for timber development which then has left the
swamps vulnerable and dry only to be accidentally burned and spreading into
huge forest fires.
○ Degeneration of forests- The logging of timber in both licensed areas and illegal
areas has consumed what was left of the remaining forests.
○ Hunting- The tracking and killing female Bornean Orangutans is to get access to
their infants for illegal pet trade, which is sadly not uncommon. They are also still
continued to commonly be hunted for food in specific areas of Borneo.
● Describe the proposed conservation actions that are needed.
○ There needs to be precautions put in place for the many fires starting all over in
the drained, dry peat-swamps. There also needs to be specific protected peat-
swamps which have not been drained and where Bornean Orangutans still exist.
Finally, I think there needs to be monitoring of the habitats and areas in which
these orangutans still are living to help stop and catch illegal hunting.
 Cebus kaapori -Ka’apor Capuchin

● Describe the species (e.g. what it looks like, how it behaves, etc.) and its distribution
(i.e. location).
○ The Ka’apor Capuchin is shades of golden browns to dark browns, with white fur
surrounding the face and upper body. They have black grasping hands and feet as
well as forward facing eyes. These Capuchins are known for being very smart and
easy to train. They typically travel in groups up to ten and roam in the most
densely populated region of the Brazilian Amazon. Their distribution can range
from the east of the lower Rio Tocantins to the Rio Grajaú where it enters the
Zona dos Cocais.
● Describe the major threats facing the species.
○ Habit loss- Due to extreme levels of deforestation and habitat destruction it not
only leaves these capuchins without the trees and proper environment for a home
but it leaves less trees available for them to obtain a key component in their diet,
fruit.
○ Hunting- Because these capuchins are smart and easily trained and naturally rare
that makes them a target for hunting. To be used as pets and tourists attractions.
● Describe the proposed conservation actions that are needed.
○ Create and implement more protective captivity for these capuchins while further
research is done on understanding how to provide better naturally abundant
habitats in possibly private forests. Inforce stronger consequences for wildlife
trafficking and promote the extreme concerns with deforestation in these areas to
hopefully limit or stop further damage from being done.
 Lemur catta-Ring-tailed lemur

● Describe the species (e.g. what it looks like, how it behaves, etc.) and its distribution
(i.e. location).
○ The Ring-tailed lemur got their name from their long bushy black and white
striped tail. They have forward facing eyes and spend time on both the ground and
up in the trees. They are diurnal. The are also female dominant among their social
groups. These lemurs are dispersed through southern Madagascar.
● Describe the major threats facing the species.
○ Habit loss- Due to the combined impact of deforestation, livestock grazing, wide
spreading charcoal production, and slash-and-burn agriculture the forests of
Madagascar are down by 45% over the last 40 years. While it is know that ring-
tailed lemurs can still survive in very bleak and lacking forests, there will be no
where left for them to go in completely deforested land.
○ Bushmeat Hunting- Ring-tailed lemurs are caught with traps and chased down
by packs of dogs for meat as a source of food in the tropical forests.
○ Live-capture for illegal pet trade- It is not uncommon for these lemurs to be
caught alive for the specific purpose of using them for picture booths and props to
make money from tourist passing through. Infant ring-tailed lemurs are even more
targeted for pet trades.
● Describe the proposed conservation actions that are needed.
○ Poverty and malnutrition in Madagascar are key factors into why these lemurs are
sought out for food and captured as pets to create a source of income. By boosting
the economic situations as well as implementing more sustainable food sources in
Madagascar that would help alone tremendously. On top of that bring awareness
to the tourists about the impact of financially participating in activities with ring-
tailed lemurs as illegal pets.
 Questions

1. How and why is the 2014-2016 list different from the previous list?
a. The lists are different because they have dropped past species but not all, on the
list in order to add new ones. In hopes of allowing the new added species to get
more public attention as well to get funding and raise concerns for much needed
protection to be put in place. When other species are taken off the list it does not
necessarily mean that their situations have change or improved but instead to
create a more inclusive list for the many species needing help.
2. Reflect on the major threats facing primates (and biodiversity in general), how you
and your activities fuel these threats, and steps you, personally, could take to reduce
these threats.
a. One threat comes specifically to mind, that is the threat of illegal pet trade
happening. I can recall a cruise my family took two years ago to mexico, there
was a lot of caged monkeys, which I now think were probably capuchins being
used for things like, pay for a picture booths and non legitimate attractions where
you could pay to hold and interact with these primates. My family went to one
and it wasn’t cheap either, I can see how that dinky tropical animal attraction was
fueling people financially to continue to hunt and live-capture these primates
away from their homes. I think by first off not supporting attractions like this
could be helpful but further than that I believe exploiting the questionable nature
of how they not only obtained those primates but how they are being treated in an
environment so unnatural to their own could be helpful too. I this has opened my
eyes that there needs to be more conversations about how to limit deforestation
and increasing sustainable food sources for the places that feel they need to hunt
these primates for food. Lastly, on a personal and more realistic scale I believe I
could sign petitions needing signatures to help speed along protections to be put
in place for these primates. Also posting on social media and sharing what I have
learned in order to help protect and prolong these endangered primates lives. Also
express the financial donations needed to help make some of these steps forward
actually happen, to people who are in more of a financial capability to give.
 References

Schwitzer, C., Mittermeier, R.A., Rylands, A.B., Chiozza, F., Williamson, E.A., Macfie, E.J.,
Wallis, J. and Cotton, A. 2017. Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered
Primates 2016–2018.
https://slcc.instructure.com/courses/519990/files/85115986/download?verifier=6EqjuzL
OzANrezRYqIulPrHyQKXcyroqCBHIij7c&wrap=1

Arkive. Aye-Aye by Nick Garbutt. Nature Picture Library. Accessed Feb 1, 2019.
http://www.arkive.org/aye-aye/daubentonia-madagascariensis/

Arkive. Ring-tailed lemur climbing by Daniel J. Cox. Natural Exposures Inc. Accessed Feb 1,
2019. http://www.arkive.org/ring-tailed-lemur/lemur-catta/image-G14283.html

Arkive. Ka'apor capuchin with food, at research station by Liza Veiga. Accessed Feb 1, 2019.
http://www.arkive.org/kaapor-capuchin/cebus-kaapori/image-G58846.html

Arkive. Bornean orangutan infant hanging from tree by M. Watson. Ardea Wildlife Pets
Environment. Accessed Jan 31, 2019. http://www.arkive.org/bornean-orangutan/pongo-
pygmaeus/image-G4403.html