Mukunda - a Silverback Gorilla in Congo's Virunga National Park - had been leaving the forests to eat the crops (corn, bananas etc) of local villagers. The Rangers feared for his safety because he was literally destroying the livelihood of the communities around the forest.


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Examples of problem primates: Humans and primates often come into conflict,
especially when it comes to human food supplies.
Click here to watch a baboon raiding a truck full of bananas and pineapples.
Video by Ian Redmond.


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When gorillas find a banana plant they tear it apart to eat the nutritious pith which does not endear them to banana farmers.  In this case Mugaruka is eating a banana plant growing wild near the edge of Kahuzi Biega National Park, DRC.


Working Group - Problem Primate

The Problem Primate Working Group, In collaboration with People and Wildlife, creating conservation solutions for living together.

People & Wildlife

Human and non-human primates sometimes cause each other problems. Some species of primates are opportunistic in their foraging and when they come across human crops or food supplies this creates conflict. On the other hand, when humans destroy their habitat or with the best intentions approach so close that disease transmission can occur, we cause them problems. Solutions to these problems are being tried and tested wherever they occur but there is a need for better dissemination of the results.

The Problem Primate Working Group, looks at all non-human primates coming into conflict with people, not just apes. Anyone with experience of problem primates and solutions that they would like to share please email .

VideosClick here to view Problem Primate videos.

Science news & articles relating to the Problem Primate Working Group.

Ape Alliance - Article

Buton macaques (Macaca ochreata brunnescens): crops, conflict, and behavior on farms


American journal of primatology | Priston, Nancy E C; Wyper, Rebecca M; Lee, Phyllis C | October 2011

One consequence of anthropogenic habitat alteration is that many nonhuman primates are forced into conflict interactions with humans and their livelihood activities, especially through crop raiding. These problems are particularly acute for the endemic and threatened Buton Island macaque (Macaca ochreata brunnescens), in southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia. Our study investigated the crop raiding behavior of this species over time. Foods eaten and the behavioral repertoire exhibited by macaques during crop raiding at and inside farm perimeters were observed over a period of 8 years (2002-2009).

24/10/2011
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Ape Alliance - Article

Troop Size, Habitat Use, and Diet of Chacma Baboons (Papio hamadryas ursinus) in Commercial Pine Plantations: Implications for Management


International Journal of Primatology | Henzi S. Peter et al | August 2011

Abstract: Primates living outside protected areas frequently come into conflict with humans. While the focus of most research has been on the costs and consequences of crop raiding in relation to subsistence agriculture, large-scale commercial agriculture presents conservation challenges of its own. Baboons that occupy commercial pine plantations in southern Africa often damage young trees and, consequently, are shot in large numbers. We here aim to describe the population structure and resource and habitat use by baboons in such areas to provide the data needed for the formulation of viable long-term conservation policies.

01/08/2011
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Ape Alliance - Article

Customs capacity building in Africa to combat illicit wildlife trade


Africa | March 2011

Over 100 seizures of wildlife protected by the 

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

were made in a two-week transregional operation in January and February 2011 

to combat the illegal cross-border trade in great apes and other wildlife species including their derivatives.

Increasing wildlife crime and associated corruption is a matter of grave concern to governments and the international community; 

being on the frontline at international border crossings enables 

Customs to play a critical role in the fight against transnational organized crime which is 

more often than not linked to the smuggling of endangered species. 

01/03/2011
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Ape Alliance - Article

One Ranger Killed, One Seriously Injured in Virunga National Park


One Ranger has been killed and one critically injured in a second major FDLR Rwandan militia attack in less than a week in Virunga National Park in DR Congo. Ranger Muhindo Mburungani was hit in the chest and died instantly when their unit intercepted a group of FDLR looting a public transport minibus on the Kabasha escarpment to the west of the park yesterday evening. The driver was shot through the eye, arm, and chest and is in critical condition at Kayna hospital.

Both were part of a civilian protection unit positioned along the road. The attackers have not been apprehended.

31/01/2011
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Ape Alliance - Article

Best Practice Guidelines for Great Ape Tourism


We are please to announce that a new publication has just been posted
on the PSG website:

Best Practice Guidelines for Great Ape Tourism

Elizabeth J. Macfie and Elizabeth A. Williamson

with contributions from Marc Ancrenaz, Chloe Cipolletta, Debby Cox,
Christina Ellis, David Greer, Chloe Hodgkinson, Anne Russon and Ian
Singleton

The PDF can be downloaded via the following link:

http://www.primate-sg.org/BP.tourism.htm

We hope to have printed copies available at the IPS Congress next
month. Translation into French and Bahasa Indonesia is underway.

We are very grateful to the Arcus Foundation and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service for supporting the production of this document.

02/09/2010
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Ape Alliance - Article

DRC: Humans versus animals in a conflict zone


IRIN Africa | August 2010

Goma, 4 August 2010 (IRIN) - On a Friday in Goma central prison in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, 25 dirty, barefoot men accused of illegal fishing in Lake Edward are gathered before three judges, who come once a week to hear cases against those locked up in a building unrenovated since the Belgian colonial era.

04/08/2010
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[ Click here to view all Science 4 Apes articles... ]

Problem Primate Working Group - Organisations

The following organisations are involved in the Problem Primate Working Group.


People and Wildlife
Problem Primate Working Group Secretariat
WildCRU, University of Oxford
Tubney House, Tubney,
OX13 5QL,
United Kingdom


Phone: 01865 393110/100
Web (en): www.peopleandwildlife.org.uk
Email: click for contact form

Born Free Foundation
Will Travers CEO
3 Grove House
Foundry Lane
Horsham
West Sussex
RH13 5PL
Phone: +44 (0)1403 240 170
Fax: +44 (0)1403 327 838
Web (en): www.bornfree.org.uk
Email: click for contact form

International Primate Protection League (U.K.)
Gilmore House
166 Gilmore Road
London SE13 5AE
Phone: +44 (0)20 8297 2129
Fax: +44 (0)20 8297 2099
Web (en): www.ippl-uk.org
Email: click for contact form

Orangutan Protection Foundation
Angel House
225 Marsh Wall
Canary Wharf
London
E14 9FW
United Kingdom
Phone: 08456 521 528
Web (en): http://www.orangutanprotectionfoundation.org
Email: click for contact form

Sumatran Orangutan Society
Helen Buckland
The Old Music hall
106-108 Cowley Road
Oxford OX4 1JE

Phone: +44 (0) 1865 403341
Web (en): www.orangutans-sos.org
Email: click for contact form
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