Red Colobus monkeys (Piliocolubus spp) are Africa’s most threatened group of primates. Over half of the genera can be found on the Endangered Species list. One species is thought to be hunted to extinction. In August 2018, the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group and African Primatological Society launched a Conservation Action Plan to unite and mobilize partners from around the world to prevent a continent-wide extinction of these monkeys. The plan aims to: (1) develop a red colobus network; (2) improve stakeholder awareness; (3) build capacity for African conservationists; (4) strengthen protection; (5) improve political support; and (6) survey and monitor populations.

Recently, members of the team—including Dr. Scott McGraw and his colleagues from Global Wildlife Conservation, James Madison University, the University of Oregon, and SMART Partnership—received a $45,000 grant from National Geographic to make steps towards these goals. Their project, “Creating and protecting an African Flagship.

To achieve this, Dr. McGraw and colleagues plan to create a network of conservationists who specialize in Red Colobus monkeys. This grant will help establish the network and its coordinator, establish and expand a social media and web presence, and develop a framework to monitor the impact of the network. Additionally, this project will improve protection of four Critically Endangered species.

For more information about this project, please contact: Dr. Scott McGraw at mcgraw.43@osu.edu.