Distribution Survey and Threat Assessment of the Yellow-tailed Woolly Monkey (Oreonax flavicauda; Humboldt 1812), Northeastern Peru

Abstract

Peruvian yellow-tailed woolly monkeys (Oreonax flavicauda) are considered Critically Endangered (IUCN Categories A4c). The International Primatological Society also considers them one of the world's 25 most endangered primate species and therefore a conservation priority. However, there is little concerted conservation action, and the existing protected area network may be inadequate to protect this species from extinction. Until recently this species has been the focus of few studies and its distributional limits remain unknown. I present results of a range-wide survey of Oreonax flavicauda in northeastern Peru. I conducted 53 presence/absence field surveys at 43 sites between March 2007 and March 2010, with data collected for an additional 7 sites from other researchers. I chose sites where the species was previously reported or following suggestions from predictive GIS modeling. Oreonax flavicauda was present at 35 sites, all presence records were in Ficus spp.-dominated cloud forests between 1500 and 2650 m above sea level. I give the geographical limits of this species distribution throughout the north, east, and west of its range; the exact extent of its range to the south requires further investigation. Oreonax flavicauda continues to be threatened throughout its range. The major threats I identified at the survey locations were the continued conversion of forests to cattle pasture, opening of new access routes into virgin areas, and both commercial and subsistence hunting. My results suggest that existing conservation measures may be inadequate at protecting this species but that substantial opportunities do exist. Further surveys need to be made in the southern distribution of this species to determine more accurately extant habitat.

Estado de conservación de Lagothrix flavicauda y otros primates en bosques montanos de San Martín y Huánuco, Perú

“…La mayoría de estudios sobre primates fueron conducidos en bosques montanos de la Región Amazonas y están referidos específicamente a Lagothrix flavicauda (Leo Luna 1980, 1982, 1987, Cornejo 2008, Shanee et al 2008, Shanee 2011 y Aotus miconax (Butchart et al 1995, Shanee et al 2013a. A ellos se suman el inventario de primates en el interfluvio de los ríos Marañón-Huallaga (Shanee et al 2013b) y bosques pre montano y montano de Cajamarca (Aquino et al 2014).…”

Yellow-tailed woolly monkey (<i>Oreonax flavicauda</i>: Humboldt 1812) altitudinal range extension, Uchiza, Perú

“…in the Peruvian departments of Amazonas and San Martin (Leo Luna 1980) and neighboring areas of the departments of Huánuco and La Libertad (Graves & O'Neil, 1980;Parker & Barkley, 1981;Shanee, 2011 (deLuycker, 2007;Leo Luna, 1980;Shanee, 2011). In many areas habitat loss has forced this species into small forest fragments (Shanee et al, 2007;Shanee, 2011).…”

Primate Surveys in the Marañón-Huallaga Landscape, Northern Peru with Notes on Conservation

“…Lagothrix flavicauda, one of the world's 25 most endangered primates (Mittermeier et al 2012), is endemic and lives in cloud forest. There have been some studies of its behavior and feeding (Leo Luna 1980, 1982, 1984Cornejo 2008), geographical distribution (Shanee et al 2008;Shanee 2011), and activity budget and behavior patterns (Shanee and Shanee 2011a), but very little is known about the use of forest strata and home range. The presence of L. flavicauda in the premontane and montane forests of the Región Huánuco was unknown until 2005.…”

“…The presence of L. flavicauda in the premontane and montane forests of the Región Huánuco was unknown until 2005. Till then it was believed that it was restricted to the cloud forests of the regions of San Martín, La Libertad and Amazonas (Shanee et al 2008). Aquino (2006) observed a group near the village of Tingo de Uchiza in the Región Huánuco during a wildlife inventory in the Provincia de Tocache, between the Río Chontayacu and the limit with the Provincia de Tocache, Región San Martín.…”

“…Aquino (2006) observed a group near the village of Tingo de Uchiza in the Región Huánuco during a wildlife inventory in the Provincia de Tocache, between the Río Chontayacu and the limit with the Provincia de Tocache, Región San Martín. Shanee (2011) considered that its range included the montane forests from the limits of the Provincia de Tocache (Región San Martín) south to probably the Río Magdalena in the Región Huánuco, but Aquino and Ramos (2010) suspected that their distribution would extend further south to include the premontane and montane forests surrounding the ríos Monzon, Patuy Rondos and Chinchao, including Carpish near Tingo María and Pampamarca near the limit with the Región Pasco. For our study area, a few reports indicated the presence of L. flavicauda, the red howler (Alouatta seniculus), and Aotus miconax in premontane forests of the Región Huánuco, but there was no information on their population density, geographic distribution, group size, and food resources and the floristic composition of the forests where they live.…”