One of the major causes for primate endangerment is logging. Logging, the harvesting of trees for timber, disrupts the home of many primates such as orangutans, gorillas, red colobus monkeys, howler monkeys, and chimpanzees. Even though there are specific areas that are protected by law, it is not enough to save these primates because illegal logging is very common: “Nevertheless, records for penalizing poachers are often poor, because wildlife protection is rarely a national or even local priority. Corruption can often be an additional major problem that tempts poorly paid and resourced park managers, guards and local authorities to disregard law, thus undermining effective conservation programs,” (Tranquili et al. 2014). Since arboreal primates …show more content…
Thus, logging results in the endangerment of wild primates because depending on how flexible some primates can get with their resources, they have difficulty adjusting to other environments and these primates are exposed to more danger. Aside from the direct impact of logging, logging also makes the jobs of farmers and hunters much easier because these primates are more accessible since they are forced to live in smaller home ranges. Typically, arboreal primates have significantly long home ranges; they are constantly jumping from one tree branch to another and barely ever spend time on the ground. After logging takes place, there are not as many trees for these primates to navigate around. With fewer trees, primates living in groups face more competition. This also results in primates spending time on the ground more frequently. This is evident in the specific case of chimps, red …show more content…
Primates are more susceptible to viruses and parasites when they are forced to forage on a smaller amount of trees: “Infective-stage primate parasites were found at higher densities in canopy and ground vegetation plots from logged compared to undisturbed forest, demonstrating a greater infection risk for humans and nonhuman primates in logged forest,” (Chapman et al. 2005). Since these primates have less trees to feed on, larger groups feed on the same trees which makes it a higher possibility of spreading the virus: “ Alternatively, their restricted ranging and increased time spent in any one tree may increase the chances of infection for direct life-cycle parasites,” (Chapman et al. 2005). Having to change up their diets due to limited resources can also cause primates to become weak and as a result, unable to fight off the parasites: “Second, encroachment by humans into native primate habitats leads to loss of food resources for primates, which leads to deterioration of their body condition and therefore a heightened risk of acquiring infections,” (Mbora and Munene, 2006). Primates spending more time on the ground due to habitat destruction result in increased human interaction. Primates making interactions with humans more frequently result in spreading viruses from humans to nonhuman primates (Mbora and Munene,
Forests cover 31% of the land area on our planet. They produce vital oxygen and provide homes for people and wildlife. Many of the world’s most threatened and endangered animals live in forests, and 1.6 billion people rely on benefits forests offer, including food, fresh water, clothing, traditional medicine and shelter (drug war facts, Page 1).
A Primate’s Memoir, written by Robert Sapolsky, documents the author’s time in Kenya while he studied the various behaviors of a troop of baboons. One of the key aspects of the book was the social rank that developed within the troop. Female baboons have a social hierarchy that is fairly cut and dry. The eldest baboons in the troop are considered the higher-ranking females, and as the baboons get younger, so to follows the string of dominance. The ranking for males was essentially from the strongest baboons to the weakest baboons. The baboon at the top of the social hierarchy was considered the alpha male. This social rank has huge implications for the troop in regards to which baboons mated with each other. If another baboon wanted to become the alpha male, then he would have to challenge the current alpha male to a fight, and win. The baboon’s distinct personality mixed with their instincts are the primary factors for where one lands on the social hierarchy. Another key aspect of the book was the strategies that took place when the baboons wanted to mate with another baboon. Similar to humans, the baboon males tried to impress the female baboons in a way that would make them want to mate. The rank of the male is considered to be one of the greatest factors contributing to what mate they end up with, because there is nothing more impressive than becoming a high-ranking baboon. Also, there were instances of lower-ranking baboons strategizing and forming teams with other baboons to become a higher ranking baboon for the mating possibilities. The baboons in the group are considered a patch-work of different troops, as it is common for one baboon to move to different groups frequently.
Seeker states that 60% of all primates are threatened with extinction. The main idea is primates
Continuous human degradation of the Cross River gorilla is the primary cause of their dwindling numbers. An amazing species that once prospered in the jungle has been abused to near extinction. Because human interference is the cause of the gorillas decreasing numbers, it is humanities obligation to suspend the practices that lead to their demise. In doing so, we must also explore the options we have to repopulate a species with an intellect second only to humans. Aside from the obvious cruelty of this issue, repopulating the Cross River gorilla is important because the gorillas endangerment is just a byproduct of the unsustainable, and barbaric human interference that is destroying an entire ecosystem. In addition to the extinction of the Cross River gorilla, we will also lose a vast unexplored environment. To end this species demise, we must fight to control the issues that
Thesis Statement: Despite the rampant protests of animal welfare organizations on encaging primates in zoos since primates typically show abnormal behavior, zoos in the National Capital Region claim that human interaction and enrichment programs help alleviate the stress and trauma primates experience.
Primate (Latin: "prime, first rank"), which includes prosimians and simians ( Goodman, Tagle, Fitch, Bailey, Czelusniak ,and Koop ,1990). Primates are descendent that emerge from their predecessor that lived in the trees of tropical forests; A lot of primate features shows how they adapt to survive in this demanding habitat.Majority of the primate species are pertain to trees.
Do non-human primates have communication, language, both, or neither? By definition, communication is the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information (Snowdon). Communication is very closely related to social behavior since they are both referring to the ways animals interact with each other (Quiatt and Reynolds 1993). Conversely, language is defined as a system of communication using sounds or gestures that are put together in meaningful ways according to a set of rules (Haviland et al. 2010). Non-human primates and human primates are similar in many ways, and communication is no exception. They both have various types of communication senses and styles. Human primate communication senses consist of sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. Non-human primates mainly understand the world through sight, but smell, taste, and hearing are important as well (Quiatt and Reynolds 1993). Human primates are capable of speaking a language, while non-human primates use different vocal calls to communicate. In essence, the difference is simple, human primates have language while non-human primates do not. Even though non-human primates do not have language, they do have communication.
It has been believed that culture is unique to humans and no other groups of animals have culture, but recent evidence refutes this ideology. Before getting into the meat of the argument, it is important to first address the issues regarding the ambiguity of the term, “culture.” What is culture? Many scientists may argue that culture is the way of life for a group of individuals, this definition includes the values, beliefs and traditions of the group (Sapolsky, 2006). Other scientists may argue that culture is the transmission of habits and information by social means (Sapolsky, 2006). Despite the different specifics of what culture is, almost all scientists would agree that culture is transmitted socially through social learning that promotes the transfer of information between members in a group (Boesch and Tomasello, 1998). Based on these notions of culture, it can be justifiably stated that primates have culture. Primates exhibit food preparation techniques, use of tools, communication skills, and most importantly, behaviors of social learning. An exemplar of primates’ capabilities for culture is Koko, the lowland gorilla. Koko, in captivity, was able to learn American sign language, demonstrate self-awareness and the ability to deceive.
Primate socioecology studies the impact of ecology on the social behavior of primates. A socio-ecological model focuses on the behavioural trends in individuals and the resulting social system that arises as a result (Schaik, C. et al., 1996). Another main principle of socioecology is to understand the evolution of social systems, including group characteristics and the social to mating dynamics. The theoretical framework of socioecology concentrates on the concept of traditionally largely impacting ecological factors especially predations risk and resource distribution. This framework is supported by a multitude of tests correlating with the specific predictions from the model (Kappeler, et al., 2003). Socioecology was first demonstrated in
General Introduction: One of the basic needs that almost every mammal or an animal needs to fulfill is to procreate. The only way in nature is to have sex, and for most animals sex only serves that function. However, one well-known exception is the use of sex in bonobo primates. The function of sex varies from reproduction to conflict resolution and as a means to strengthen bonds (Lanting 1997).
As long as humans have lived in forested areas, they have cut down trees for lumber and/or to clear space for agricultural purposes. However, this practice has resulted in the destruction and near extinction of our national forests. Today, fewer than five percent of our country's original forests remain (Thirteen) and the U.S. Forest Service continues to allow more than 136,000 square miles to be logged each year (Byrant). Even more alarming, is the fact that only twenty percent of the current public forest lands are permanently protected by law, leaving nearly eighty percent to be consumed by chainsaws and bulldozers (Heritage...).
The forest where animals live already deforested because of human activities, for example they build a huge building for office, turn-over the function of forest became farming, and many more. We already felt, the transition of life goes so fast. As the time goes on, people need many foods because human population in the world keep increasing each year. That’s why people cut down the trees and change the forest become farming. But the bad effects that causes animals lose their habitat. Most of them move to another place, find a new place to hold their life, and problems that the chimpanzees face are they can’t find food as usual. Chimpanzees spend six to eight hours each day searching for food. They eat a wide variety of food, 200 different types of plant, and are particularly fond of leaves, fruit, nuts and berries (Banks, 1999). In a long term one by one the chimpanzees died because they can’t survived in their new habitat, that’s happened many times. Beside that they must face new predators likes jungle cat and reptile, it also the effect of human
Logging in the United States is a very controversial subject. Many people have different opinions on how we should take care of our forests and sometimes the arguments can get heated. Logging needs to be done to protect small western communities from catastrophic wild fires. Logging also gives small communities a way of income. When people think of logging they think of clear cutting which is damaging to the environment, but clear cutting does not happen too much on the national forests. The Forest Service has strict guidelines in which they follow to make sure the forest will stay healthy for years to come. Logging must be done with wildlife, human effects of the forest, and the health of the forest in mind. Logging can ultimately liberate small towns in the forest from fire danger and liberate the towns from having to depend on surrounding communities for a way of income. The forest and animals are also liberated from dense forest which can suffocate animals and plants. The animals are provided with more food with grasses after logging has accrued. Logging if done right is great for the forest and towns that are in the middle of the woods.
After researching and observing the lives of orangutans I can support my hypothesis. The orangutans are restricted into a small area, fed when the trainers feed them, and live on the ground because there are no trees causing them to have a different lifestyle than the wild orangutans. The captive orangutans are taken care of by the trainer and never have to struggle to get food. They seem to sit and sleep at the same time, for majority of the time I was observing. There are no predators for them to have to fight off since they are separated, where in the wild they would have to protect themselves and in some cases their offspring. If an adult female were to give birth while in captivity, the offspring would grow up to have a completely different lifestyle than a juvenile in the wild. The juvenile is cared for and protected by the trainers more than they would be by their own mother. Being in captivity gives the primates the option of medicine in cases of sickness or an injuries. In the wild the primates have to live without the nurture of these trainers which is why they tend to live...
There exist in certain areas of rainforest in Indonesia timber barons who employ what are commonly referred to as logging gangsters. The victims of this social problem are not only the rare species that inhabit the rainforests, such as the Sumatran Tiger and Orangutan, but also those people who wish to do something to stop this depletion. Environmental activists and journalists attempting to document or protest the atrocities are often killed or severely beaten by the criminals. Like all illegal trafficking, the illegal rainforest wood trade exists only because there is an outside force demanding it. In this case, the force is that of high-income countries.