Help Rescue Primates from Illegal Trafficking

These strikingly beautiful primates are old world colobine monkeys that are found only in Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Listed by the IUCN as Endangered, they are social animals that spend their lives in trees. Douc langurs feed primarily on leaves, but also eat some seeds, fruits and flowers. They are very picky about the species and age of their food, and often die in captivity due to gastric distress. Their highly specialized nutrition and habitat requirements make them extremely habitat dependent.

There are 634 species and subspecies of primates in the world, from humans and apes to monkeys and prosimians. These incredible animals are known to show a range of emotion, have opposable thumbs, use tools and have complex, species-specific social behaviors. People are often fascinated by these diverse, highly intelligent, social creatures, because so much of our own behavior and evolution is reflected in them. Sadly the future of mankind’s closest relatives is uncertain. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 48% percent of all primate species are threatened, and over 70% of Asian primates are facing extinction. Cambodia ranks number 5 in the world for the highest percentage of threatened primate species per country. Nine out of the 10 primate species in Cambodia are listed as either Endangered or Threatened.

Unfortunately, hunting and habitat destruction is pushing primates like the douc langur to extinction. Poached for their use in traditional medicine and the illegal pet trade, doucs and other Asian primates are rapidly disappearing. However, while these numbers are scary, there is one dedicated team fighting to reverse this trend. Since 2001, the Wildlife Rapid Rescue Team (WRRT) has been working arduously to rescue primates and halt the illegal wildlife and pet trade. They have rescued over 2,500 gibbons, langurs, macaques and lorises. Last year alone, the team rescued 85 live primates from 8 different species, including this black-shanked douc langur that was safely returned to the forest.

As the last line of defense, the WRRT’s presence in Cambodia is critical to the survival of this threatened species. It costs the team approximately $500 to conduct a rescue operation. This consists of gathering information from various intelligence networks, conducting the undercover investigation, saving the animals, and providing care to rescued wildlife during transit to a release site or to Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center.

Thank you for making a gift and helping the Primate Rescue Project be a top project on GlobalGiving. With only 23 days left to reach our goal, we hope you will take advantage of this year's biggest Bonus Day and make your gift go further! On July 15th, donations of up to $1,000 made through GlobalGiving will be matched at 50%. With your help, we can stop Cambodia's endangered primates from being hunted to extinction before it's too late!

Mark your calendars for July 15th and don't forget to share this great opportunity with your friends!