In the introduction to Primates in Peril: The World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates 2016–2018, we are

offered a glimpse into the previous list of the 25 most endangered primates, published for 2014-2016.

The current list differs considerably; nearly half of the species named in the earlier list have been

replaced by other species. It is noted here, however, that this is not because the conditions have

improved for the 12 species who found their way off of the list. Conditions for those primates are, in

fact, worse in some cases than they were 2 years before, but their plight now pales in comparison to

that of the 12 new species. The author also mentioned that the report is placing emphasis on closely-

related species whose future outlook is grim. (Schwitzer)

The report looks at four zones of primate habitats – Africa, Madagascar, Asia, and the Neotropics. I will

select one species from each of the zones and describe each animal, detail the survival threats which

they face, and review the proposed conservation efforts.

In Africa, the species I will focus on is the largest known primate, Grauer’s Gorilla, pictured above

(Plumptre). This great ape is found primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo, from which it is

endemic and “distributed discontinuously throughout the lowland, mid-altitude and montane forests.”

(Schwitzer). They have been studied so little that their diet is not fully known, but they have been

observed eating vines, bark, leaves, fruit and, at high altitude, bamboo.

Almost as soon as they were discovered, their status as a threatened species was realized. A series of

surveys in the past 6 decades have revealed an decrease in contact or nest encounters with this

subspecies of Eastern Gorilla. One unique problem that has hit this species hard has been political strife

and violence in the surrounding area’s human population. The Rwandan genocide and the subsequent
Congo wars drove many people away from urban centers, and has caused an increased reliance on

bushmeat. The bushmeat trade seems to be a factor affecting all of the listed African primates, but the

gorilla, being a large animal, is prized highly. Surveys conducted among miners in the area reveal that

consumption of gorilla meat is commonplace. The mining industry has also acted to displace the gorilla,

by destroying their habitat, as has the conversion of forest to farmland.

There are protected areas for the gorillas, but the political instability has put a check on those

protections, and conservation efforts have been focused on regaining control over these lands. In areas

affected by agriculture and resource acquisition, the focus has been on “confiscation,” rehabilitation,

and reintroduction of infant gorillas, as well as by locally organized monitoring organizations. (Schwitzer)

Shown above is the Ring-tailed Lemur, a critically endangered primate from Madagascar (Oxford). The

Ring-tailed Lemur is perhaps one of the best known symbols of both Lemurs, and of Madagascar. They
live in large, female-dominated groups of up to 30 individuals. They are able to adapt to a wide variety

of ecological niches, and are able to absorb some of the losses to habitat from industrialization and

climate change.

However, habitat loss is not the only challenge facing this species. Many people like to keep them as

pets, and a lively trade exists in capturing and selling them, to the point of near-extirpation in many

areas. Another problem is that of bushmeat hunting.

The proposed conservation efforts here focus mainly on educating locals about their effect on the

environment, and on creating food security for the same people, lest they seek the animals for food.

In Aisa, the Hainan Gibbon is in extinction’s crosshairs, seen above. This is the second great ape I

mention here. They take their name from Hainan Island, where they are found. Males are all black in

color, while females, as seen above, (Shing) are much lighter in color.
In the last 20 years, their numbers have been watched closely, and have only recently risen to a total

population size of more than 2 dozen. Little information is given in Primates in Peril as to a reason for

their low population (A hurricane harmed their habitat in 2014, but the population was low well before

that).

Conservation efforts have seen gains since local parties became involved, including government and

private citizens.

One thing I can see right away that I can do to mitigate the damage to primate communities is to reduce

my fuel consumption. Logging and minging activites have also hurt primates on each of the four zones,

and I think I need to seek out products that source their materials more conscientiously, with a

commitment to observing conservation efforts and legal regulations

References
Oxford, Pete. Photo. January 2019. <http://www.arkive.org/ring-tailed-lemur/lemur-catta/image-
G13898.html>.

Plumptre, Andrew. Huddled in the Mist. Arkive. n.d. Electronic. January 2019.
<http://www.arkive.org/eastern-gorilla/gorilla-beringei/image-G4508.html>.

Schwitzer, Christopher, Russell A. Mittermeier, Anthony B. Rylands, Frederica Chiozza, Elizabeth A.

Williamson, Elizabeth J. Macfie, Janette Wallis, and Alison Cotton. "Primates in Peril The World’s
25 Most Endangered Primates 2016–2018." 2017. Electronic Document. January 2019.

Shing, Lee Kwok. Photo. January 2019. <http://www.arkive.org/hainan-gibbon/nomascus-

hainanus/image-G114824.html>.