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Atsalis S, Gravenberch M, Norconk MA. Mentorship and professional growth for conservationists in primate-range countries. Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23592. [PMID: 38205682 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Ways to support professional capacity of emerging conservation leadership in primate range countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvia Atsalis
- Professional Development for Good Consulting, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Garber PA, Dolins F, Lappan S. Scientific activism to protect the world's primates and their environments from extinction: Introduction to the special issue. Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23601. [PMID: 38284477 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Nonhuman primates and their habitats are facing an impending extinction crisis. Approximately 69% of primate species are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as threatened and 93% have declining populations. Human population growth (expected to reach 10.9 billion by the year 2100), the unsustainable demands of a small number of consumer nations for forest-risk commodities, deforestation and habitat conversion, the expansion of roads and rail networks, cattle ranching, the hunting and trapping of wild primate populations, and the potential spread of infectious diseases are among the primary drivers of primate population decline. Climate change will only exacerbate the current situation. The time to act to protect primate populations is now! In this special issue of the American Journal of Primatology, we present a series of commentaries, formulated as "Action Letters." These are designed to educate and inform primatologists, conservation biologists, wildlife ecologists, political leaders, and global citizens about the conservation challenges faced by particular primate taxa and particular world regions, and present examples of specific actions that one can take, individually and collectively, to promote the persistence of wild primate populations and environmental justice for local human populations and impacted ecological communities. As scientists, researchers, and educators, primatologists are in a unique position to lead local, national, and international efforts to protect biodiversity. In this special issue, we focus on primates of the Brazilian Amazon, lemurs of northeast Madagascar, Temminck's red colobus monkey (Piliocolobus badius temminckii), night monkeys (Aotus spp.), long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis), the primate pet trade, and professional capacity building to foster conservation awareness and action. We encourage primatologists, regardless of their research focus, to engage in both advocacy and activism to protect wild primate populations worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Garber
- Department of Anthropology, and Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- International Centre of Biodiversity and Primate Conservation, Dali University, Dali, Yunnan, China
| | - Francine Dolins
- Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Michigan, Dearborn, Michigan, USA
| | - Susan Lappan
- Department of Anthropology, Malaysian Primatological Society, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, USA
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Bezanson M, Cortés-Ortiz L, Bicca-Marques JC, Boonratana R, Carvalho S, Cords M, de la Torre S, Hobaiter C, Humle T, Izar P, Lynch JW, Matsuzawa T, Setchell JM, Zikusoka GK, Strier KB. News and Perspectives: Words matter in primatology. Primates 2024; 65:33-39. [PMID: 38032520 PMCID: PMC10796633 DOI: 10.1007/s10329-023-01104-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Postings on social media on Twitter (now X), BioAnthropology News (Facebook), and other venues, as well as recent publications in prominent journals, show that primatologists, ecologists, and other researchers are questioning the terms "Old World" and "New World" due to their colonial implications and history. The terms are offensive if they result in erasing Indigenous voices and history, ignoring the fact that Indigenous peoples were in the Americas long before European colonization. Language use is not without context, but alternative terminology is not always obvious and available. In this perspective, we share opinions expressed by an international group of primatologists who considered questions about the use of these terms, whether primatologists should adjust language use, and how to move forward. The diversity of opinions provides insight into how conventional terms used in primatological research and conservation may impact our effectiveness in these domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle Bezanson
- Department of Anthropology, Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, USA.
| | - Liliana Cortés-Ortiz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Júlio César Bicca-Marques
- Escola de Ciências da Saúde e da Vida, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, PUCRS, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ramesh Boonratana
- Mahidol University International College, Nakhon Pathom 73210, Thailand
| | - Susana Carvalho
- Primate Models for Behavioural Evolution Lab, Institute of Human Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Gorongosa National Park, Sofala, Mozambique
| | - Marina Cords
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10027, USA
| | | | - Catherine Hobaiter
- Wild Minds Lab, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK
| | - Tatyana Humle
- Durrelll Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent, Kent, UK
| | - Patrícia Izar
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jessica W Lynch
- Department of Anthropology, and Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Tetsuro Matsuzawa
- Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
- Department of Pedagogy, Chubu Gakuin University, Gifu, 504-0837, Japan
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory for Animal Conservation, College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | | | | | - Karen B Strier
- Department of Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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García de la Chica A, Oklander LI, Kowalewski MM, Fernandez-Duque E. Human and Non-Human Primate Coexistence in Argentina: Conflicts and Solutions. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3331. [PMID: 37958086 PMCID: PMC10648367 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
There are five different primate species inhabiting widely distinct ecoregions in Argentina. Each of them faces various threats in terms of conservation and conflicts that hamper their ability to coexist with human populations. We present here some of the drivers known to be the causes of conflicts between humans and primates in the southernmost area of distribution of Latin American primates. We focus our synthesis on two of the biggest sources of conflict: the effects of different anthropogenic disturbances, and human misconceptions concerning the role of primates in the ecosystem. In each section, we briefly characterize the conflicts worldwide and then provide specific cases and examples from Argentina. In the last part of the manuscript, we further describe some ongoing national and regional educational, research, and conservation approaches to mitigate those effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alba García de la Chica
- Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1428, Argentina
- Owl Monkey Project—Fundación ECO, Formosa 3600, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina
| | - Luciana I. Oklander
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina
- Instituto de Biología Subtropical (IBS), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional de Misiones (UNAM), Posadas 3300, Argentina
- Neotropical Primate Conservation Argentina, Puerto Iguazú 3370, Argentina
| | - Martin M. Kowalewski
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires 1425, Argentina
- Neotropical Primate Conservation Argentina, Puerto Iguazú 3370, Argentina
- Estación Biológica Corrientes—Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral (CECOAL-CONICET-UNNE), Corrientes 3400, Argentina
| | - Eduardo Fernandez-Duque
- Owl Monkey Project—Fundación ECO, Formosa 3600, Argentina
- Department of Anthropology and School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
- Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Formosa, Formosa 3600, Argentina
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Walker-Bolton AD. Time for action: Introduction to the special issue on conservation education in monkeys and strepsirrhines. Am J Primatol 2023; 85:e23480. [PMID: 36825506 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
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Decolonizing the Ourang-Outang. INT J PRIMATOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10764-022-00345-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Franquesa‐Soler M, Jorge Sales L, Silva‐Silva Rivera E. Participatory action research for primate conservation: A critical analysis of a nonformal education program in Southern Mexico. Am J Primatol 2022; 85:e23450. [PMID: 36317585 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Historically, Mexico has had an important role in primate conservation research, however, studies have rarely included the human dimensions of primatology. Inclusion of these disciplines should be a priority, considering that human activities are responsible for the current socio-ecological crisis. Mexico is habitat for three primate species, and all are threatened. This urgency demands new approaches and broader perspectives. First, we propose three main research frameworks relevant for conducting PCEPs in Latin America: Participatory Action Research, Arts-based education in PCEPs and Knowledge Coproduction. Furthermore, we aimed to (1) describe a case study about primate conservation education in Southern Mexico based on participatory visual methods under the umbrella of Participatory Action Research (PAR), and (2) to conduct a self-reflective, critical, straightforward, and constructive analysis of the experience. We discuss the various challenges faced during the process (e.g., traditional teaching prevalence at schools, teachers that are not school-based, time and academic constraints). Additionally, we highlight some PAR aspects applicable for researchers and practitioners interested to go further than knowledge transmission (e.g., codesign, arts-based education, placed-based education, critical thinking, and capacity building). To collectively progress in primate conservation education in Mexico and other Latin American countries, projects could greatly benefit from context-specific, people-centered approaches, such as PAR. We encourage researchers to share more of their personal research experiences including both their successes and failures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montserrat Franquesa‐Soler
- Universidad Popular Autónoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP) Puebla Mexico
- Miku Conservación AC Xalapa Mexico
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Rose PE, Riley LM. Expanding the role of the future zoo: Wellbeing should become the fifth aim for modern zoos. Front Psychol 2022; 13:1018722. [PMID: 36337505 PMCID: PMC9631926 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.1018722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Zoos and aquariums have an enormous global reach and hence an ability to craft meaningful conservation action for threatened species, implement educational strategies to encourage human engagement, development and behavior change, and conduct scientific research to enhance the husbandry, roles and impacts of the living collection. The recreational role of the zoo is also vast- people enjoy visiting the zoo and this is often a shared experience amongst family and friends. Evaluating how the zoo influences this "captive audience" and extending its reach to include a compassionate approach to animals and people can further enhance the mission, value, and relevance of their work. The modern zoo's current aims-Conservation, Education, Research and Recreation-provide useful foundations for the activities that zoos conduct at a local and national level. However, to improve sustainability of their actions and outcomes, we feel that Wellbeing should become the fifth aim of the modern zoo for the future- both from an animal perspective (ensuring that populations are managed according to prevailing behavioral needs) and from a human perspective (enhancing access to nature, promoting planetary friendly behavior changes and ways of living, and advancing the wellbeing of the zoo's workforce). This paper provides discussion and review of how Wellbeing is already a substantial part of what zoos work on as well as posing the idea of altering the Recreation aim of the zoo to one of Engagement, which potentially is more measurable and therefore can allow zoo researchers and managers further options for the collection of evidence on the local and global reach of their zoo's aims. Education, Engagement, Conservation, Research and Wellbeing provide a more complete picture of the roles of the modern zoo for the animals (both in situ and ex situ), human visitors and workforce, and to society more widely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E. Rose
- Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, Psychology, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- WWT, Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa M. Riley
- Centre for Animal Welfare, University of Winchester, Winchester, United Kingdom
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