The Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey

There is no doubt that we have all read or heard foreboding news about the rates at which several animal species are going extinct. Human activity has caused the decline and endangering of species across the world – whether it’s pollution that is causing a decline of the honey bees and native bee species, or the hunting of one of the largest aquatic mammals, the whale. This blog explores yet another vulnerable primate that is in decline due to rapid deforestation – the Yellow-Tailed Woolly Monkey.

The Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey is an agile and arboreal primate found only in the montane Peruvian forest. As the name suggests, they have a thick, woolly fur. They also have a unique deep mahogany or copper fur and yellowish pelage at the end of the tail. The Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey possess a prehensile tail that aids in their locomotion. They are known to be naturally curious creatures. 

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey as a critically endangered species. The major threat to the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey is destruction of their natural habitat for residential and commercial development. Rampant deforestation for housing projects, logging, and road construction have sharply declined their numbers. According to the GIS survey published by the Neotropical Primate Conservation (NPC), an estimated 50% of the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey habitat has already been destroyed. Commercial development project such as cattle ranching and coffee cultivation also contribute to their loss of habitat. The species is also threatened by illegal hunting. Poachers hunt the mothers for their highly sought after mahogany fur while babies are captured and sold as pets.   

The conservation projects started by the Neotropical Primate Conservation work with local communities to create awareness about the declining population of the Yellow-tailed woolly monkey. NPC works with the locals to create alternative income methods in order to continue conservation projects. Moreover, the worsening local climate also encourages the people to look for more environmentally friendly ways of living.

If we can explore the skies and put a man on the moon then we can certainly make an effort to save the Earth’s wildlife. As consumers in living a developed world, do you think it is our responsibility to know how the products we buy are manufactured? Whether it’s ivory jewelry made of elephant’s tusk or decorative rugs made out of animal skin. We are all aware that there is no Planet B, so what can be done to protect our ecosystem? We should be mindful that deforestation not only endangers the survival of the animals living in the forest but it also affects the clean air we need to breath.

Fun Facts

Did you know that the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey was thought to be extinct in the early 20^th century but was rediscovered in 1974

A group of monkeys is referred to as a "troop", "tribe" or "mission."

The Yellow-tailed woolly monkey is also featured on the Peruvian One sol coin to create awareness of this endangered species.

Please turn on English subtitles while watching