Sloth Bear

Sloth bear

The sloth bear is restricted to India, with about 20000 remaining. Unfortunately their population is falling, as a result of habitat loss.

 

 These bears live alongside tigers and many other species though they are not particularly easy to find.

Over time we hope to list many places where you can visit bears and see them in their wild home, these will appear here, and a list of posts we have published on bears will appear below these links

Bear Family tree

Bear family tree

The world has 8 species of bear. Although an incredibly successful family in their own right, humans have not been good for the various species which make up this family.

Click on a picture to be taken to its page

Below is a family tree showing current understood relation between the bear species

Dryas Monkey

Dryas Monkey

Dryas monkeys, also known as salonga monkeys, are found only in the Congo basin, on the left side of the Congo river. At one time, thought to be a subspecies of the Diana monkey, it is to different to be considered the same species.

While it is currently considered data deficient, there are experts who believe that in fact there are only around 200 remaining in the wild, and it is actually close to extinction. having said that, in 2019 it was discovered in Lomami national park at 8 locations. While it is unclear how many individuals this accounts for, what is clear is that it should only be listed as endangered.

This species prefers secondary forest locations. Although secondary forests are said to be preferred, these monkeys may also inhabit lowlands, rivers, or swampy areas of the Congo.[9]

The diet of the Dryas is said to be made up of mostly plant foods, including fruits, young leaves, and flowers. As these foods are often unavailable, this species also consumes small invertebrates, such as insects, as a supplement

Tantalus monkey

Tantalus monkey

Ranging from Ghana to Sudan, and is listed as least concern. There are 3 recognized subspecies, which is not a surprise given the large area over which it is found. It is also highly adaptable species able to inhabit open woodland, savannah, forest-grassland mosaic and riverside forest. It is at home in secondary forest and even rural and urban locations.

They live in groups of up to 30, with around 10 adult males,

Malbrouk Monkey

Malbrouck monkey

Sometimes, classed as a subspecies of the vervet monkey (or the Grivet). It is found in central and south central Africa, ranging from the Albertine Rift in the DRC west to the Atlantic coast and south to northern Namibia and Zambia west of the Luangwa River. Its choice of habitat, is marshy forests, Savanna-forest and montane forest up to an altitude of 4,500.

They live in groups of 6-50 animals and are active during the day. Each group defends a territory – size depending on the amount of food available.

They are considered least concern

Bale mountain Vervet monkey

Bale mountain vervet Genus Chlorebus

Bale mountains Vervet Monkey

This monkey is found in the Bale mountains of Ethiopia, in the bamboo forests. They rely on the bamboo for their diet, which means that they are generally restricted to it. As much as 77% of its dietary requirements comes from African alpine bamboo. In continuous forest they eat around 10 species, however in broken forests their choice of plants can be as much as 5 times higher – these populations can consume as little as 2% of their food from bamboo. It is unclear if this is as a result of the hybridisation or a natural adaption. It does mean that should an area of bamboo be destroyed, then unlike giant pandas they can simply start eating something else until the bamboo recovers. When they live near human settlements, they will also happily raid human crops.

In the past, fragmentation has lead to contact with vervet monkey and Grivet. While this is thought to be around a century ago, it has left traces on the genetic make-up of the animal.

Currently, it is only listed on CITES appendix 2, so it is not close to being extinct. However it is occasionally hunted, and if human behaviour was to change its population could fall very fast.

Below here, you will see a short video of this species, and below that is a list of any times where this blog mentions this species. Below that, is a list of any articles that mention this species (if any). 

Under this, we will list any links which might help you see this species in the wild. If you work in the ecotourism within its range, whether as a guide, or perhaps in hospitality, we are keen to list your services at the bottom of the page, so that anyone who shows interest in this species can instantly find the services listed to be able to book their travel to see them. It costs nothing, but should someone book, through this website, we take a small commission.

Green or Sabaeus monkey

Green or sabaeus monkey

Green or Sabeus Monkey

This monkey is found in many habitats ranging from the dry edge of the Sahel region up to the edge of the rainforest. It is also common along the coast, and is known in these areas to feed on crabs. It will also feast on fruits and even invertebrates. In west africa it is found from Senegal and the Gambia to the Volta river. It has been introduced to the Cape verde islands of Santiago and brava close to North Africa, around 350 years ago. It has also been introduced to West Indian islands of St Kitts, Nevis, St Martin and Barbados around 250 years ago, by slave ships on the way from west Africa. There is also a small colony which started from a zoo escape that lives in Florida (Broward County)

They are classed as least concern, so certainly at the moment, they are not facing extinction.

Grivet monkey

Grivet

There are people who suggest that the whole vervet family is essesntially one widely varied species, though most disagree with this stance. It is currently listed as least concern, and while hybridisation between this and the Bale vervet threatens the future survival of the Bale vervet, the grivet is too common for this to have a big impact at the time.

Vervet monkey

Vervet Monkey

This is an old world monkey from Africa, it is also a family of monkeys which are similar in the Genus Chlorocebus. There are 5 recognized subspecies found throughout Southern (not west of the Luangwa river) and eastern Africa (not west of the great rift valley. Alongside much research on themselves and their behaviour, it has been noted that they can suffer from something similar to various human conditions including hypertension, Anxiety, as well as both social and dependent alcohol use.

Common Patas monkey

Common Patas Monkey

The common patas monkey (also known as the Wadi monkey or the Hussar monkey) is a ground dwelling monkey, which lives throuhg semi-arid areas of West Africa, and even into parts of east Africa. At one time, the east and west versions of this monkey were considered subspecies due to the different colour of the nose. However, the white nose was noticed to emerge during female pregnancy as well as over time as the animal got older.

It is found across Africa in a band, which petters out a few hundred miles from the East coast, merely reaching the western parts of Kenya and Tanzania. It has also been introduced to Peuto Rico. There is no overall estimate for its population, but it is high, and while as with other primates, it risks local extinction, it is not at risk of extinction at the moment.

It is thought that this monkeys relationship to the whistling thorn Acacia may have inspired Dr Seuss character the Lorax.

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