Miller's grizzled surili, Presbytis hosei canicrus, is the rarest of the four hosei subspecies, all endemic to the island of Borneo. From 5 March to 6 April 2008, we carried out a survey to examine the status of this monkey in the eastern part of Borneo, most particularly in Kutai National Park. We were unable to find any evidence for the continued existence of Presbytis hosei in the park. We were able to locate just one group occupying the riverbank habitat of Baai River, isolated by oil palm plantations in the District of Karangan, East Kalimantan. Forest fires, particularly in 1997–1998, and hunting for food and for their bezoar stones are probably the main causes of the probable extirpation of P. hosei in the Kutai National Park. Forest loss due to extensive oil palm plantations is the main threat to this species in the areas of Sangkulirang and Karangan.

Red-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus) groups were located in the Son Tra Nature Reserve, Da Nang, Vietnam, and two preliminary censuses were undertaken in December 2006 and April 2007. Several teams located and counted Douc Langur groups by direct observation. Large numbers of groups with multiple members were located at various sites in the nature reserve. These findings are highly significant because reports over the last several years have recorded low numbers of Douc groups, and some have predicted an entire loss of doucs in Son Tra Nature Reserve. The numbers of Douc groups and individuals is also very significant since they may represent at least 60% of all of the living red shank Douc Langurs in Vietnam.

A survey of the distribution and population status of the capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus) was conducted in and around the Pakke Wildlife Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh, India. From 2001–2003, we surveyed ten selected localities, recording 26 groups and a total of 195 individuals. The data was obtained using line transect surveys and total count methods. Capped langurs were found in a number of different habitats: tropical semi-evergreen forest and moist deciduous forests. Of the 195 individuals registered, 14% were adult males, 52% adult females, 2% unidentified adults, 7% sub-adults, 11% juveniles and 15%) infants. The smallest group numbered 3, and the largest 13, with an average group size of 7.5 individuals. The male-female ratio was 1:3.6. The most common size class of the group was of 7–9 individuals.

With approximately 5,000 chimpanzees, Uganda is important for the conservation of the eastern subspecies Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii. The population distribution is highly fragmented, however, and the prospects for the long-term viability of many populations will be greatly improved if dispersal opportunities are maintained between major forests via migratory corridors. Chimpanzees in unprotected human-dominated habitat outside the main forest blocks are often ignored by research and conservation efforts. This study assessed the status and distribution of chimpanzees in northern Hoima District, western Uganda. The survey region covered 400 km2 between 1°26′–1°37′N and 31°09′–31°32′E, and separates two major forest blocks, Bugoma and Budongo. Chimpanzees use small forest fragments along watercourses throughout this region, both on private or communal land and in small government reserves, and a number of distinct groups (‘communities’) are present. There has been no evidence to indicate that chimpanzee populations are isolated; on the contrary chimpanzees appear highly mobile in this forest-farm habitat, confirming the region's corridor potential. At one site in the region, chimpanzees occur at an estimated density of 0.66 individuals/km2 which, if extrapolated across the survey area, implies a larger population than previously thought. Recent and rapid habitat change resulting from unregulated timber extraction and clearance of fragments for agriculture—particularly for cash crops such as tobacco—has exposed the chimpanzees, causing increased negative interactions between apes and farming communities. The chimpanzees in northern Hoima are unlikely to survive without immediate intervention.

The crab-eating or long-tailed macaque (Macaca fascicularis) of tropical Southeast Asia is a widespread but rapidly declining species. The threats to the species are manifold and include habitat loss and degradation that increasingly result in conflict with expanding human populations in both rural and urban landscapes, as well as trapping and trade for pharmaceutical testing, research, and development. The greatest threat from the trade is in the Indochinese region, especially Cambodia where in 2003–2004 macaques began to be harvested from the wild, ostensibly for captive breeding for export to China and to the USA and elsewhere. The lucrative operations, however, may serve to “launder” wild-caught monkeys and appear to have resulted in their disappearance even from legally protected areas. Much of the impetus for this trade appears to be biowarfare research in the USA, the country that is the world's largest user of primates. Macaca fascicularis is classified as of “Least Concern” in the IUCN/SSC 2008 Red List of Threatened Species. It is imperative that the conservation status of the species be reassessed and that the impact of trade on the species be assessed by the CITES Secretariat.

The Andean night monkey Aotus miconax is found only in Peru's northeastern cloud forests, and is one of the country's three endemic primate species. Very little is known of this species; today largely limited to the records of Butchart et al. (1995) and a few museum specimens. Between 2005 and 2007, we observed A. miconax in various localities in the regions of Amazonas and San Martín, and recorded what we could of its natural history, distribution and conservation status. The Andean night monkey was observed to live in groups of two to four individuals, using sleeping sites at heights of 6 to 9 m. We have confirmed the presence of the species in 10 additional localities in Amazonas and San Martín, all between 900 and 2,788 m above sea level. It was recorded in various forests types, from primary to relict. Even though it is not hunted directly and can survive in disturbed habitats, the extremely high rate of deforestation in this area is threatening its long term survival. Research on the biology, natural history and ecological requirements of this species are much needed.

The northeastern region of India, comprising the seven states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura, has the highest primate diversity of the country. There are numerous populations of primates living in and around the temples of the region but none have been documented. Of the 17 primates found in India, 11 occur in the tropical and subtropical forests of these northeastern states. A primate survey was carried out from April 2003 to October 2003 in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and Tripura to assess the status and diversity of temple primates. We found 16 temple sites in the region that support nonhuman primate populations of four species: Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatto), Assamese macaque (Macaco, assamansis), golden langur (Trachypithecus geei), and capped langur (Trachypithecus pileatus). Loss of natural habitat and increased conflict between humans and nonhuman primates were found to be major threats for the temple primates of the region. The study suggests the need for a special conservation program with community initiatives to mitigate these problems. Key Words: Northeast India, temple, primates, habitat loss, human-primate conflict

Abstract: Antserananomby Forest was once a refuge of the rare deciduous flora of western Madagascar. Through primate studies that were conducted in the late 1960s and early 1970s, it was discovered that the primate density and diversity in this forest was greater than any other known in western Madagascar. Although research at Antserananomby ceased in the 1980s, satellite images from 2000 indicated that the forests were still intact. In August 2004, we returned to Antserananomby to determine whether this site could feasibly become a location for long-term primate research and to assess whether efforts should be initiated to establish Antserananomby Forest as a national reserve. In addition to general assessments, we conducted diurnal primate surveys using the line transect sampling method. We found that the 8.6 ha of Antserananomby Forest have since been cleared. Due to recent demographic and attitudinal changes in the local human population, the surrounding forests are regularly burned, and at least some...

This paper reviews the complicated nomenclatural history for the Kenya coast galago, Galagoides cf. cocos, and examines whether ‘cocos’ is the valid species name for this recently resurrected taxon. This paper also reviews the phenotypic and vocal differences among G. cocos; the Zanzibar galago (Galagoides zanzibaricus zanzibaricus); the Udzungwa galago (Galagoides zanzibaricus udzungwensis); and the Mozambique galago (Galagoides granti), as well as their geographic ranges and conservation status. The following are among the findings: (1) ‘Galagoides cocos’ is the name that should be applied to the Kenya coast galago; (2) in the field, the loud calls of these three species are diagnostic and remain the best means for identification; (3) there is a suite of phenotypic characters that, when taken together, can be used to distinguish among these three species when in the hand or viewed in the field in good light at close range; (4) G. z. zanzibaricus is phenotypically distinct from G. z. udzungwensis; (5) the three species are parapatric or, perhaps, narrowly sympatric; (6) the three species are endemic to the coastal forests of eastern Africa with G. cocos in the north (Kenya and northeastern Tanzania), G. zanzibaricus in Tanzania, and G. granti from southern Tanzania to southern Mozambique; and (7) none of the three species is threatened at this time, although G. z. zanzibaricus meets the IUCN Red List criteria for an Endangered subspecies.

The conservation status of several African colobines has been studied extensively during recent years; however, this is not the case for the West African black-and-white colobus monkeys, notably Colobus polykomos dollmani of Côte d'Ivoire. In 2003 and 2004, we conducted surveys in three forest reserves and Marahoué National Park between the Sassandra and Bandama rivers in Côte d'Ivoire to assess the status of the primates there, with a special focus on Colobus p. dollmani. Thirteen primate taxa were expected in the south-central part of the interfluvial region. We confirmed the presence of eight, including Colobus p. dollmani. Only two of the eight taxa, however, were found to be relatively frequent in all of the four protected areas: Cercopithecus (c.) lowei and Cercopithecus p. petaurista. The presence of Cercopithecus (diana) roloway and Pan troglodytes verus in all four reserves could only be inferred from interviews with local people. Procolobus badius badius was mentioned as present by local people in only one reserve. We detected Colobus p. dollmani in only one of the forests visited but indirect evidence of its presence in a second reserve. Poaching and habitat destruction are the main threats to this subspecies as well as to the other taxa. Without immediate and vigorous action, this colobine taxon will probably be extinct in the near future.