Primates: Primates
Conservation Status
About one-third of all primate species are threatened. Of these, 120 species are Critically Endangered, facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild; Endangered, facing a very high risk of extinction; or Vulnerable, facing a high risk of extinction. Critically Endangered species include the Sumatran orangutan, one species of snub-nosed monkey, three lion tamarin species, and two gentle lemur species. Most of the problems for these tree-dwelling animals come from deforestation, or tree destruction and removal. Hunting in some areas is also a problem, as are brush fires. Tourism, while increasing local awareness, also means increased development to house and feed tourists. There are captive breeding programs and protected national parks, but as habitat loss continues, extinction of several species is predicted.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Books:
Alden, Peter C. National Audubon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1995.
Coppard, Kit. Africa's Animal Kingdom. London: PRC Publishing Ltd., 2001.
Fink Martin, Patricia A. Lemurs, Lorises and Other Lower Primates. Danbury, CT: Children's Press, 2000.
Maynard, Thane. Primates: Apes, Monkeys, and Prosimians. Danbury, CT. Franklin Watts, 1999.
Sleeper, Barbara. Primates. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1997.
Periodicals:
"New Primate Faces Appear in Brazil." National Geographic (December 1998): Earth Almanac section.
Schleichert, Elizabeth. "Can We Save the Lemurs?" Ranger Rick (December 2000): 18–22.
Stewart, Doug. "Prosimians Find a Home Far From Home." National Wildlife (Feb/Mar 1998): 33–35.
Web sites:
Holder, M. K. "See and Hear." African Primates at Home. http://www.indiana.edu/~primate/primates.html (accessed on July 5, 2004).
Conservation International press release. Eastern Lowland Gorilla Population Plummets 70 Percent since 1994. http://conservation.org/xp/news/press_releases/2004/033004.xml (accessed on July 5, 2004).
Additional topics
Animal Life ResourceMammalsPrimates: Primates - Physical Characteristics, Habitat, Behavior And Reproduction, Primates And People, Conservation Status - GEOGRAPHIC RANGE, DIET