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Primates |
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Species at risk
Find out more about life on the edge.
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What can you do?
Get involved in conservation efforts and tell your friends!
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Saving Planet Earth |
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| Introduction - What are the threats? |
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 | Conflict with humans
Human-wildlife conflict is becoming increasingly common as human populations grow and natural habitat declines. People and non-human primates are at risk from loss of food sources, disease transmission, injury and death.
Conservationists are trying to develop mitigation strategies that both protect endangered species, such as great apes, and assist local people. This is a considerable challenge, especially with regards to crop raiding.
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| | The bushmeat trade
For centuries, hunting for bushmeat was a sustainable way to provide food for local families. However, demand has risen steeply and, while gorillas and chimpanzees, for instance, make up a small proportion of the bushmeat trade, the effect on populations is devastating.
People have to eat and conservationists recognise this, but they are trying to encourage alternative sources of food. One idea is to persuade local people that it's important to keep primates alive and in the wild as much-needed income can be generated through tourism.
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| | Deforestation and the tropical hardwood trade
Deforestation is a major problem for primates and the developed nations are the main consumers of tropical hardwoods. Organisations such as the Forest Stewardship Council have independent monitoring schemes that determine which products come from sustainable forests. If we are careful to choose these, the loss of vital habitats will be reduced.
Solar cooking uses nothing but the sun's rays and a foil-lined cardboard box. It is being promoted by conservationists in order to reduce the need for firewood in human settlements near primate habitats. This alone will
not save these endangered animals, but it could help enormously.
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