Conservation Projects / South America / Peru
Yellow Tailed Woolly Monkey in LaEsperanza, Peru
Photo by Keefe Keeley
The yellow-tailed woolly monkey, Oreonax flavicanda, is a
critically endangered species. A reddish brown monkey, with long, thick fur
and a powerful yellow tail, this very social primate travels in troops of
up to 14 individuals. The groups are polygamous with up to three adult males
in each group. There is a hierarchy but levels of competition are low. These
animals are frugivorous, eating mainly fruits, but also leaves, flowers and
buds. Females average 12.5 pounds and males average 18.3 pounds. They are
diurnal, active during the day, and are arboreal, keeping high in trees which
grow to a little more than 120 feet high and 3 feet in diameter. These animals
are quadrapedal, traveling with all four limbs, assisted by their prehensile
tail and occasionally brachiating, swinging from branch to branch, and able
to leap distances of almost 50 feet.
Yellow-tailed woolly monkeys live in the Tropical Andes Biodiversity Hotspot.
They range the steep ravines and gorges of cool mountain rain forests at some
5600 to 8200 feet above sea level., where temperatures range from about 40
to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. This montane habitat in the Andes cloud forests
of northern Peru experiences frequent fog and rain year round. The monkey
was observed and recorded by Alexander von Humboldt in 1802. Several specimens
were collected in the 1920’s. There was speculation that the creature
was extinct until a small population was observed in 1974. Once protected
by a remote and relatively inaccessible territory, beginning in the 1950’s
encroachment, including habitat loss and fragmentation by logging and agriculture,
and subsistence hunting, now threatens this primate, which is one of the planet’s
rarest mammals. Only some 250 individuals are believed to exist! A low rate
of reproduction, slow maturation and single offspring contribute to the pressure
on this rare creature.
Neotropical Primate Conservation and the yellow tailed woolly monkey in Peru.
Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC) was founded by Sam and Noga Shanee and Lizzie Cooke in 2007. It began as a non-profit organization and was awarded UK charity status in August 2009. NPC was set up in order to promote the conservation of Neotropical forest habitat and all wildlife through various means. These include: land protection; research; improvement of degraded habitat for wildlife; creation of public awareness; environmental education; and facilitation of the commercialization of sustainable, ecological products on behalf of local people.
At the end of 2007 Neotropical Primate Conservation initiated a program to conserve the yellow tailed woolly monkey. A preliminary survey was conducted and current projects are run in areas where yellow tailed woolly monkeys were found in relatively high numbers. Work is ongoing between the Cordillera de Colan Nature Sanctuary and the Alto Mayo Protected Forest, forming a natural rainforest corridor between these two reserves. NPC projects include efforts to register substantial habitat with the Peruvian Government as conservation reserves.
NPC also works with local communities to create a network of community run conservation reserves for the yellow-tailed woolly monkey. Community projects include scientific census work within the proposed reserves, a reforestation program using native tree species that are beneficial to humans and wildlife, environmental education and NPC initiatives to assist the development of sustainable economic practices in the region, including the development of markets for native agriculture products and handicrafts made in the area.
Community Conservation in Peru
Neotropical Primate Conservation contacted Dr. Rob Horwich for assistance in development of the community conservation component of the yellow-tailed woolly monkey conservation program, and in early 2009 Community Conservation began work on this project. CC obtained a grant from the Margo Marsh Biodiversity Foundation to fund Rob’s work mentoring and consulting with NPC to promulgate community conservation methodology. Dr. Horwich traveled to Peru and from July 7 through August 5, 2009 he conducted a series of training programs for NPC, members of local NGO’s and community members.
NPC now works with local communities to create a network of community run conservation reserves for the yellow-tailed woolly monkey. Community projects include scientific census work within the proposed reserves, a reforestation program using native tree species that are beneficial to humans and wildlife, environmental education and NPC initiatives to assist the development of sustainable economic practices in the region, including the development of markets for native agricultural products and handicrafts made in the area.
Community Conservation looks forward to a continuing relationship with Neotropical Primate Conservation and the communities in Peru who are working together to protect this very rare and critically endangered animal.Area of Peru, indicating distribution range of the yellow tailed woolly monkey (red outline), potential protected areas (black outline) and potential conservation partners.
Sources and additional reading
http://www.neoprimate.org/, Burton & Pearson 1987, Butchart et al 1995, CNN, Cons. Intl., Emmons & Feer 1997, Flannery 2001, InfoNatura, Inst. Ciên. Biol., IUCN 1994, IUCN 1996, IUCN 2000, IUCN 2003a, IUCN 2004, Kids Ecol. Corps, Luna 1980, Macdonald 2001, Mittermeier et al. 1975, Napier & Napier 1985, Nowak & Paradiso 1983, Nowak 1999, Parker & Barkley 1981, Peres 1991, Primate Info Net, Rowe 1996, Rylands et al. 1997, Glenn, C.R. 2006 “Earth’s Endangered Creatures” earthsendangered.com/profile
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