Abstract
Peruvian yellow-tailed woolly monkeys (Oreonax flavicauda) are considered Critically Endangered (IUCN Categories A4c). The International Primatological Society also considers them one of the world’s 25 most endangered primate species and therefore a conservation priority. However, there is little concerted conservation action, and the existing protected area network may be inadequate to protect this species from extinction. Until recently this species has been the focus of few studies and its distributional limits remain unknown. I present results of a range-wide survey of Oreonax flavicauda in northeastern Peru. I conducted 53 presence/absence field surveys at 43 sites between March 2007 and March 2010, with data collected for an additional 7 sites from other researchers. I chose sites where the species was previously reported or following suggestions from predictive GIS modeling. Oreonax flavicauda was present at 35 sites, all presence records were in Ficus spp.–dominated cloud forests between 1500 and 2650 m above sea level. I give the geographical limits of this species distribution throughout the north, east, and west of its range; the exact extent of its range to the south requires further investigation. Oreonax flavicauda continues to be threatened throughout its range. The major threats I identified at the survey locations were the continued conversion of forests to cattle pasture, opening of new access routes into virgin areas, and both commercial and subsistence hunting. My results suggest that existing conservation measures may be inadequate at protecting this species but that substantial opportunities do exist. Further surveys need to be made in the southern distribution of this species to determine more accurately extant habitat.
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Acknowledgments
I thank Dr. Mark Bowler and 2 anonymous reviewers for their comments on an earlier version of the manuscript. I thank Noga Shanee for all of her help and Fernando Guerra-Vasquez and Noe Rojas Pilco for their help in the field. I also thank Mariella Leo-Luna, Hans Dignum, Keith Muskett, Julio Tello, Willy Palomino, Wagner Guzman, Leyda Rimarachin, Jan Vermeer, Cesar Flores, Mirbel Epiquien, Lorena Durand, Marcos Diaz, IKAMA Peru, Artuto Guarniz Diaz, and Eduardo Ormaeche for addition sightings, information, and recommendations. This work was funded by Neotropical Primate Conservation through grants from International Primate Protection League – UK, The Monkey Sanctuary Trust/Wild Futures, Apenhuel Primate Conservation Trust, La Vallee des Singes, International Primate Protection League - US, Primate Conservation Inc., Community Conservation, and the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation. I thank the Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales/Ministerio de Agricultura and Direccion General de Flora y Fauna Silvestre/Ministerio de Agricultura (Autorización no. 130-2007-INRENA-IFFS-DCB; no. 122-2008-INRENA-IFFS-DCB; no. 102-2009-AG-DGFFS-DGEFFS; and no. 384-2010-AG-DGFFS-DGEFFS), Instituto de Investigación de la Amazonia Peruana, Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental, Amazónicos por la Amazonia, Proyecto Especial Alto Huallaga, Proyecto Especial Alto Mayo, and the Asociación Peruana para la Conservación de la Naturaleza. Finally I thank the countless local authorities and campesinos for all their help and guidance while looking for the monkeys.
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Shanee, S. Distribution Survey and Threat Assessment of the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey (Oreonax flavicauda; Humboldt 1812), Northeastern Peru. Int J Primatol 32, 691–707 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-011-9495-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-011-9495-x