Researchers from the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE) and Arcadia University have alerted the international conservation community to the threat of imminent extinction of the seven primate sub-species on the island of Bioko, Equatorial Guinea. These seven species include the drill, red colobus, black colobus, Preuss' guenon, crowned guenon, russeteared guenon and putty-nosed guenon. Similarly, researchers have pointed out the possibility of shortterm disappearance of the island's other large-bodied game animal, Ogilby's duiker.
In October 2002, Conservation International formed team consisting of Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF), UNGE and Arcadia University to analyze the economic dimensions of the exploitation of wild meat on Bioko and determine what sorts of market and/or policy interventions would have the best chance of saving endangered wildlife on this island.
The CSF/Arcadia/UNGE team relied on extensive data and local knowledge on bushmeat gathered by Arcadia and UNGE's BBPP over the last five years, as well as a new survey of the island's hunters. The focus of this project is on the seven primates. However, it should be noted that there are other species of concern on the island, such as the tree pangolin, Ogilby's duiker, and the monitor lizard. In designing interventions to conserve primates on Bioko, care should be taken not to simply shift hunting pressure onto other species.
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The Economics of the Primate Trade in Bioko, Equatorial Guinea