Neotropical Primate Conservation
Primates Protecting Primates
The Gran Simacache conservation association just returned from 2 weeks mapping the limits of the reserve together with villagers from nuevo Esperanza.
Although the trip was not free from trouble, this marks the first activity since the signing of an agreement between the two parties to try and bring an end to the conflict which has beset this area since its creation.
Last Saturday we finished the first of our public reforestation days in Pabloyacu, near Moyobamba, Peru.
This was organized together with the Ecology faculty of the San Martin national University and local student group Jurcuna. In total 30 people came to our team with planting activities, all of whom also received training in planting and how best to ensure survival of the trees, especially important in sandy and hilly areas like Pabloyacu.
The main activity consisted of re-planting trees where previously planted saplings had not survived the dry season, and then planting in new areas which had been damaged by fires in previous years. We are very satisfied with how the day went, and will be carrying out a second day of planting with public help next Saturday, the 2nd of October. We hope to see you there!!
We have some very sad news.
Camacho, the rescued baby capuchin monkey, died on the 29th of August while in the temporary custody of the wildlife authorities. This happened just before he was supposed to be sent to a rescue centre where he would have begun his rehabilitation.
While in custody, he received lots of medical attention but still succumbed to his illness, which had caused intestinal ulcers and perforations. We cannot be sure what caused these issues, but it is likely that the illness began before his rescue.
Camacho was a 4-5 month old baby that had been kept as a pet, having been taken from his mother in the forest. In the wild, capuchin monkeys stay with their mothers for approximately 2 years, during which time they are carried, fed, and taught how to survive, as well as cleaned and shown the group territory.
Keeping primates as pets is very traumatic, especially the maternal separation when captured. In the majority of cases the mother, and sometimes other group members, are shot.
On top of this, it is very hard to provide adequate conditions for the infant’s survival. It is estimated that for every animal which survives to become a pet, 8 or 9 others died during different parts of the illegal traffic stream. For these and other reasons the trade and keeping of wildlife is illegal!
The NPC team have been very busy over the last month preparing for the launch of our new campaign: Save Venado Verde!
The campaign brings together international artists and conservationists in a unified attempt to protect 2,000 acres of threatened forest land on Colombia’s Pacific coast.
Find out more about this creative campaign on our dedicated page: Venado Verde Campaign
We are really excited to share with you the launch of Neotropical Primate Conservation Argentina, the latest member of the NPC family, joining NPC UK, NPC Peru, and NPC Colombia!
Over the coming weeks we will be updating the site with information about the primates, people, and projects which will form part of this new stage in our work.
Argentina is home to five species of primate, which inhabit different forest types in the northern part of the country, especially in the provinces of Formosa, Chaco, Corrientes, Misiones, Salta, Jujuy, and Santa Fe. Some of these species are threatened with extinction, including the brown howler monkey (Alouatta guariba clamitans) which is listed as Critically Endangered in Argentina, and listed as one of the world’s 25 most threatened primate species. Similarly, the spectacular black and gold howler monkey (Alouatta caraya), Azara’s night monkey (Aotus azarae), and Azara’s capuchin (Sapajus cay) are all listed as Vulnerable in Argentina, and the black horned capuchin (Sapajus nigritus) which is listed as Vulnerable in Argentina and Near Threatened by the IUCN. Habitat loss and hunting are the main threats these species, and understanding their ecological and conservation needs will be priorities for our work.
Argentina has a long history of investigation in the field and lab based studies on genetics, hormones, and parasites, and is one of the most advanced countries in the neotropics with regards to primatology. Studies have been, or continue to be, carried out by researchers at all levels in academia, and perhaps most importantly there has been an increase in the number of students carrying out their Ph.D. research at different field sites in the country. A legacy we aim to build on in our work.
It’s not just primates! At NPC, we believe that all species should live freely in their natural habitat. That’s why we help rescue of any animal we find being trafficked.
Today we were able to help the wildlife Authorities in Moyobamba to transport a young parrot that was captured from the wild. Its wings had been cut so it wouldn’t fly away.
If all goes well it will be one of the lucky ones and be able to return to the wild once its feathers have grown back.
Yesterday we received a call for the Regional Environmental Authorities in Moyobamba, asking our help in rescuing a tamarin (Leontocebus sp.), which appeared to have been abandoned and tied to an avocado tree in the city.
Together with officials from the regional authority, our team caught and untied the animal, transporting it to the nearby offices of the authorities. The animal is now receiving its veterinary evaluations, while we try and find a suitable rescue centre for re-homing. We hope that this sad tale will at least serve as a reminder to everyone that wild animals are not pets!
Last Saturday our volunteers alerted us to a large headed capuchin monkey (Sapajus macrocephalus) on the roof of a house in Moyobamba. The monkey was possibly a pet that had escaped from a nearby house.
We informed the Regional Environmental Authorities, who immediately seized the animal. The same day, the authorities also received a squirrel monkey (Saimiri sp.) which was handed in voluntarily by the person who found it.
For now, both monkeys are being kept by ARA until an appropriate rescue centre is able to receive them. We have been helping feed and care for both animals as well as taking them for their veterinary checks.
Luckily both monkeys are in good health, although they are very attached to people. We are very grateful to the team of ARA – Moyobamba for her quick and decisive action in this case.
Wild Animals are not Pets!
Since last week NPC Peru hosted independent French film makers Alexandrine Cabarbaÿe and Firmin Jondot from Rêv-Earth.
The couple is travelling Latin America, documenting conservation initiatives to call attention to the different projects. A few weeks ago they visited our team at NPC Colombia.
During their stay with us, they accompanied our team during all of our activities, filming our work and interviewing us about conservation in northern Peru. We are very thankful to Rêv-Earth for the invitation to take part in the documentary.
As soon as we have the edited version in hand we will share it here, and remember to check out the Rêv-Earth page to learn more about their work.
We’ve had some great camera trap photos lately, this time from Pabloyacu, Moyobamba. This is the site where we are starting reforestation work with the Universidad Nacional de San Martín.
The camera traps are part of our effort to get baseline information on species diversity and abundance in the area, for comparisons with future monitoring to see what impact reforestation has on local wildlife.
The star of the show for us this time is the Tamandua (ant eater)! It’s also really great to see peccaries, these species show that although the area is very near to the city and heavily impacted, hunting pressure is low.
