Author: neoprimate

Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC) is a registered charity dedicated to the conservation of primates and their habitats in South and Central America.
New Population of Yellow Tailed Woolly Monkeys Found!

New Population of Yellow Tailed Woolly Monkeys Found!

neoprimate

Amazing news! Last year Sean McHugh passed us information about a new population of yellow tailed woolly monkeys far to the south of their known distribution (Recently published in the journal Oryx, McHugh et al 2019). Since then, together with the Equipo Primate Loreto, We have been surveying the areas between the previously known distribution and the new sighting. Now, thanks to Elvis Charpentier Uraco, we have been able to find them, and even further south than the previous sighting. Our survey work will continue until we know the limits of their distribution in these new areas. This is really good news for the species as it means their population size may be significantly larger than thought, helping protect them against extinction.

In the photos below you can see the clear phenotypic differences between the southern population (upper) and the northern population (lower).

Photos thanks to Elvis Charpentier and Andrew Walmsley

Thanks to Primate Society of Great Britain, International Primatological Society,
American Society of Primatologists (Members of the American Society of Primatologists) and Primate Conservation Inc. for funding the study.

Reptile Rescue

Reptile Rescue

neoprimate

Introducing yet another victim of the illegal wildlife trade…

On Saturday 26th of October, the Regional Environmental Authority (ARA in Spanish) of San Martín, Moyobamba office, confiscated two false monitor lizards (Callopistes flavipunctatus). This is a species of lizard that lives in the dry equatorial forest of the Peruvian coast and is categorized as Near Threatened under Peruvian law (D.S. Nº 004-2014-MINAGRI).

The animals arrived dehydrated, hungry and very very cold (low body temperature). The ARA of San Martín asked for our help caring for the animals while finding a suitable rescue centre. Unfortunately, one of the lizards died due to internal bleeding, probably as a result of blows at the moment of capture.

However, together with ARA and the Ecological Police, we coordinated the transfer of the surviving individual to the ARA of Lambayeque, on the coast in Chiclayo, where it will be properly screened and, hopefully, released back to the wild. We want to thank engineer Andreína De La Cruz of ARA San Martín and officer Flores and Rivas of the Ecological Police for their outstanding work as wildlife authorities.

Spider Monkey Rescue

Spider Monkey Rescue

neoprimate

This week we rescued two Endangered black spider monkeys (Ateles chamek) from a rural bar in Uchiza, southern San Martin. The two animals, a male and a female, were tied to posts by ropes around their necks. Thanks to NPC’s Laura and Gabo who assisted the police and wildlife authorities with the confiscation. The animals are now on their way to RAREC rescue centre in Loreto where they will join others of their species.

New Seeds Bring Hope to Reforestation Project

New Seeds Bring Hope to Reforestation Project

neoprimate

Thousands of new seeds have arrived to the tree nurseries in Uchiza, San Martin. Great work by the local Bosques del Sinaí association in their reforestation work that we are supporting. Also, the reforestation work in Simacache continues with many new seedlings almost ready for transplanting to the deforested areas.

New Species Action Plan

New Species Action Plan

neoprimate

At the end of last week NPC Colombia, The Ministry of the Environment (Colombia) and WCS Colombia held a workshop for the making of the national species action plan for the Critically Endangered Colombia black spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps), in Pereira. The workshop was attended by 25 representative of universities, NGOs, government departments and community groups. A huge thank you to UKUMARI biopark for hosting the event and to Luz Dary Acevedo (WCS), Andrés Link (Fundación Proyecto Primates), Andrea Echeverry (ACOPAZOA) and to Nick Davis (Chester Zoo). After many intense sessions we were able to form the basis of the action plan and start a collaborative network of institutions to work for the conservation of the species. We thank Chester Zoo, EAZA and the Primate Action Fund for their generous help supporting this workshop.

Planting for the Future

Planting for the Future

neoprimate

Our native species reforestation efforts with local communities continue. The local community groups protecting the Gran Simacache and Bosques de Sinaí Conservation Concessions each have new tree nurseries producing local species to be given for free to farmers in the buffer zones of the concessions and to reforest degraded areas of the reserves, we will continue to update you on progress of this work as the trees grow and mature.

Update from Colombia

Update from Colombia

neoprimate

In addition to the search for the black spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps), NPC Colombia has held environmental education and biodiversity workshops with children from different rural communities in the Colombian West. Full of curiosity and interest, the children have explored the terms ‘biodiversity’ and ‘conservation’. There’s a lot of hope in these little people, and also a lot still to do.