Primates are human beings' closest living relative to date. So why is it that so many of our "ancestors" keep disappearing? And why our we, as human beings, responsible for their disappearance? The answer lies within a detailed journal article titled Primates in Peril. Primates are not the most common mammal to appear in conversation about endangered species. As humans we assume that primates are in no danger of extinction because of their close relation to us. When in actuality apes, gorillas, and humans are not the only mammals included in the category of primates. Other animals that make up the primate subgroup include lemurs, galagos, and tarsiers all ranging in size from a mouse lemur to a 400 pound gorilla. Now, you may be asking yourself, what is it exactly that is causing these primates to vanish?
Bush meat is meat that comes from animals killed in the wild. Unfortunately, this is one of the main causes for these creatures disappearance. In some parts of the world these primates are considered to be delicacies. Another main cause of endangerment is the lack of habitat as well as deforestation in the primates main dwelling space. These primates are even being killed for medicinal purposes, particularly in parts of Asia, and captured for exotic pet trade that prevents them from additional breeding in the wild.
So really why does it matter if our own kin was to disappear from the earth forever? To answer the question simply, it matters because it is our moral responsibility to keep alive the animals that inhabit this earth, especially our own relatives. Primates even play an important role in expanding and protecting forests around the world. They feed on many fruits, which in turn spreads seeds throughout the forest floor causing more growth and more expansion. Don't wait to take action to prevent our own relatives from disappearing from the face of the earth forever.
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I never realized how endangered these mammals were. It is interesting to learn about them, especially on an evolutionary stand point. It's good to know that awareness about endangered species hasn't stopped.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you and Allison that it is encouraging to see that the awareness about endangered species hasn't stopped, but has it improved? I feel like the talk about endangered species has been the topic for myself and fellow student's research papers since we were in fifth grade yet nothing as changed. It would be extremely interesting to me if you could find some statistical decline or improvement facts about endangered species. Also based on this article what are some ways that we could improve or help decline the killing of these animals or "ancestors"? What in your opinion do you think we should do or do you agree with what is already being done?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kristine. I think such information would be very interesting. I know I personally didn't know that there were any endangered primates.
ReplyDeleteAlso, what other reasons do I have for stopping these species from disappearing? Are there any more reasons than its my moral obligation? You touched on the extinction of certain primates leading to the endangerment of certain fruit, but I feel like you could have developed this more.