Primate gloom

The first comprehensive review in five years of the world's more than 600 species of primate found that almost 50 per cent are in danger of becoming extinct, according to the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Announced at the International Primatology Congress in Edinburgh earlier this month, the report by the world's leading primate scientists presents an alarming picture of the status of primates around the world. In Asia, more than 70 per cent of species are classified on the IUCN Red List as vulnerable, endangered or critically endangered — meaning they could disappear in the near future. Habitat destruction, through the burning and clearing of tropical forests, which also emits 20 per cent of global greenhouse gases, is a major threat to primates. Other threats include the hunting of primates for food and an illegal wildlife trade. " We've raised concerns for years about primates being in peril, but now we have solid data to show the situation is far more severe than we imagined, " said Russell Mittermeider, chairman of the IUCN species survival commission's primate specialist group and the president of Conservation International (CI). " Tropical forest destruction has always been the main cause, but now it appears that hunting is just as serious a threat in some areas, even where the habitat is still quite intact. In many places, primates are quite literally being eaten to extinction. " The review, funded by CI, the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation, Disney's Animal Kingdom and the IUCN, is part of a major study of the world's mammals to be released in October. With the input of hundreds of experts worldwide, the primate review provides scientific data to show the severe threats to animals sharing the greatest amount of DNA sequence with humans. In both Vietnam and Cambodia, approximately 90 per cent of primate species are considered at risk of extinction. Populations of gibbons, leaf monkeys, langurs and other species have dwindled due to rapid habitat loss News focus exacerbated by hunting for food and to supply the wildlife trade and traditional Chinese medicine. " What is happening in Southeast Asia is terrifying, " says Jean-Christophe Vie, deputy head of the IUCN species programme. " To have A new worldwide survey finds that almost half of all primate species are in danger of becoming extinct. Nigel Williams reports.