Primate Conservation and Commodity Life Cycle Analysis

Michelle Y. Merrill, Ph.D.

Commodities pre-test:1. Rank these commodities from worst (most

harmful=1) to best (least harmful=4) in terms of their impact on non-human primates:

A. Paper napkins

B. Processed peanut butter

C. Poached primates D. Phones

Commodities pre-test (ct’d):2. What criteria did you use to rank

them?

3. What else would you want to know?

Sumatran Orangutans: Pongo abelii

Tool Use and Social Learning in Orangutans

Sumatran Orangutans (Pongo abelii)extracting seeds from the fruit of Neesia sp.

http://www.cabrillo.edu/associations/climate/curriculum/MusaAti.wmv

IncreasedSocial Tolerance

Larger Repertoireof AdaptiveBehaviors

ReducedCompetition

for Resources

More Timein Proximity

more chancesto learn any

new behavior

More DiverseSocial Partners

more potentialinnovators to

observe

Meanwhile, at Suaq Balimbing…

http://www.cabrillo.edu/associations/climate/curriculum/treecrash.wmv

Threats to PrimatesWhy are so many primates endangered?

• Habitat Destruction: Logging for timber,

pulp, firewood Conversion of forests

for farming• Subsistence• Market/Plantation (esp.

oil palm) Wildfires Mining

Threats to PrimatesWhy are so many primates endangered?

• Poaching & Capture Bushmeat Accidental catch

(snares) Pet trade

Threats to PrimatesWhy are so many primates endangered?

• War Increased

poaching No patrols/

enforcement for protection

Often related to mining (e.g. diamonds, Coltan in Congo)