Monday 26 August 2013

Peruvian Amazon - Red Uakaris: A silent extinction

How silently some species creep towards extinction, hunting and deforestation desimating their wild populations. The beautifully peacfull Red Uakaris (Cacajao calvus) are one of the species.

I have had the pleasure of working with and learning about this species at a small wildlife Rescue Centre named Pilpintuwasi in the village of Padre Coche, Peru and have learnt about and seen the challenges they face first hand. Pilpintuwasi is only small but maintains a troop of approximatly 9 monkeys, including 3 babies..... one of which is the only baby to have ever been bred in semi or full captivity making it an important component of the local efforts towards understanding this species.

This species is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.


Getting to Know the Species
The Red Uakari is one of 4 species of Uakari. The family Cacajao to which the Red Faced Uakari belongs also includes the Black-Headed Uakari (Cacajao melanocephalus), the Ayres Black Uakari (Cacajao ayresi) and the Neblina Uakari (Cacajao hosomi).

At the turn of the 20th century, the rubber boom saw an influx of people dispersing through the Peruvian Amazon, and these indivduals required food. The inquisitive and social Red Uakaries were easy prey. Since then, with the ever growing Amazonian population requiring resources, deforestation of their very restricted Brazilian and Peruvian flooded forest habitats that has condemed them to further decline.

It has been said that, as a result of their limited facial hair, a Red Uakari can express their emotions just as effectivly as we ourselves can, including anger and joy. This feature, no doubt, bides this species well as they socially navigate their way through their huge troops that sometimes contain as many as 120 individuals. Recent research has concluded that the unusual red face of the monkeys may infact be a sign of health, with those monkeys containing parasites or Malerial infection having reduced coloration.

Another very unique feature of Uakari species' äre their rather short, fluffy tails; a feature that no other new world monkey can claim. Its uncertain how this adaption benefits the species but it definatly does not limit their athletecism as they bound easily through the highest reaches of the canopy. 

Nikis Bits:
Who would have thought id fall in love with a red-head.... but ive fallen inlove with 8 of them (not all 9, because one hates me and she´s a little evil anyway).





Sunday 25 August 2013

Wildlife Photos: Iquitos, Peru

So as the internet in Iquitos leaves a huge amount to be desired, and my ability to get access to it also highly limited, I am constricted (boa constricted some might even say) in my ability to post exhaustively about our adventures in the amazon to date. One thing that I can do is share a couple of photographs of my favourite animals that I have encountered while working in the Peruvian Amazon.

Red Tailed Boa: Iquitos, Peru
Red Ukari: Iquitos, Peru