RESEARCHERS WARN MONKEY EXTINCTION COULD BE TIP OF THE ICEBERG WebPosted Tue Nov 7 14:36:36 2000 DURHAM, N.C. --"Miss Waldron's red colobus monkey" is extinct according to researchers at Duke University. It was a little-known, little-studied creature, but scientists fear its disappearance could herald the start of an "extinction spasm" of West African species. The monkey, named after a companion of naturalist Willoughby Lowe in 1933, lived in Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Suspecting the monkey's restricted range and heavy hunting may have caused it to go extinct, researchers launched a series of surveys in 1993 to find the animal. They were quite confident that if the monkeys still existed they would observe or hear them since the monkey is large, colorful and noisy, with distinctive loud calls. After six years of searching in 19 different forested areas, as well as extensive questioning of local residents, hunters and park and forest department personnel, the monkeys were nowhere to be seen. Scientists concluded they had gone extinct. Concern for other species During their surveys, the scientists found that other large-bodied monkeys in the same regions were becoming rare. The researchers attributed the change to hunting and habitat loss. Dr. Struhsaker and the extinct colobus monkey Dr. Thomas Struhsaker of Duke University says although colobus monkeys are protected by law, hunting abounds because the laws are not enforced. According to Struhsaker, the extinction of the monkey is only the beginning of a larger ecological disaster. "We are losing a great deal of the mega-fauna of West Africa, as well as Central Africa," he says. Struhsaker says the list includes not only primates, but forest antelope called duikers, pygmy hippo, forest buffalo, bongo and in some places, elephant. Struhsaker says a multi-pronged program of urgent measures is needed, including improved law enforcement and establishing more protected areas. He also called for steps to reduce or even eliminate immigration into areas near parks and forest reserves. Help that hinders Struhsaker also cited misguided international conservation policy as contributing to the extinctions. He says much of the money being invested into development is being directed inappropriately. He says using the funds for economic development is not a proven strategy. Using examples of environmental degradation in the United States, where the economy is good, Struhsaker says improved living standards for humans don't necessarily result in the local people leaving the forests and animals alone. Co-authors of the report are John Oates of Hunter College, Michael Abedi-Lartey of the Ghana Wildlife Department, Scott McGraw of Ohio State University, Thomas Struhsaker of Duke University and George Whitesides of Guilford Technical Community College. Copyright © 2000 CBC All Rights Reserved |