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Source- The post on Red Colobus is based on the article “Red Colobus: Conserving these Old World primates could help save Africa’s tropical forests, says study” published in “Down to Earth” on 3rd May 2024.
Why in the News?
With the increasing biodiversity crisis, Conservationists have suggested Conservation of red colobus monkey species. Their conservation could have cascading net positive impacts on African tropical forest health.
About red colobus monkey
| Aspect | Details |
| About | The world monkey family consists of two major groups- Colobines and Cercopithecine. Colobines- Are primarily leaf-eaters. Red Colobus monkey belongs to this group. This Group also includes langurs from South and Southeast Asia. Cercopithecine- These are onmivores and include animals in their diet. It includes macaques of south and southeast Asia and the mangabeys, mandrills, drills and baboons of Africa. |
| Habitat and Location | Location- They are primitive monkey species native to western, central, and eastern Africa. They are found from Senegal in the west to the Zanzibar Archipelago in the east. Habitat- Their habitats include humid forests, coastal thickets, and scrub. |
| Vulnerability Status | They have been listed as one of the world’s 25 most endangered primates by the IUCN. |
| Features | 1. Appearance- They have brown and orange coat, white whiskers and a black scalp. 2.Distinctive feature- Unlike other monkey species, colobus monkeys do not have thumbs. Instead of thumbs, they have a small remnant bump. 3. Nature- They are primarily arboreal and are mostly restricted to humid forests. 4. Diet- They are mainly herbivores and thus feed upon young leaves, flowers, and unripe fruit. They are also known to eat charcoal or clay which help them to combat the cyanide some leaves may contain. |
What are the Threats to the Red Colobus Monkey
There have been various threats to the survival of the primitive species:
a) Habitat loss- It is the primary threat to colobus monkeys today due to expansion of human populations.
b) Hunting- They have been hunted for their beautiful fur and skin as it has been used to make dance costumes, hats, and capes.
c) Predators- They are often preyed upon by other predators such as chimpanzee, leopard etc.
What Conservation efforts are required
Being an indicator species, red colobus monkey needs conservation measures such as:
a) Financial support-More economic investment to create and manage protected areas for red colobus monkeys.
b) Community engagement- There is need to provide support to and engaging with communities that live in proximity to these primates.
c) Survey based study-Survey should be carried out to estimate the exact populations of these monkeys and creating awareness about their conservation value.
d) Legal safeguard- They require legal safeguards and should be designated as priority species for conservation in national legislations and international agreements.
UPSC Syllabus: Species in news
