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Black Bearded Saki Chiropotes satanas

Appearance and Behaviour

Black bearded sakis are medium-sized primates, their bodies draped in thick, dark fur and their faces framed by a distinctive, flowing beard. Adults typically measure around 50 centimetres in length, with a tail nearly as long as their body, and weigh between 2.5 and 3.5 kilograms. Their robust build and strong limbs allow them to move with surprising agility through the upper canopy, where they spend most of their lives. The black bearded saki’s most remarkable feature is their powerful jaw and specialised teeth, which enable them to crack open the hard shells of unripe fruits to reach the nutritious seeds inside. This adaptation makes them one of the most efficient seed predators and seed dispersers in the Amazon, and their foraging habits play a vital role in shaping the forest ecosystem.

Black bearded sakis live in groups of up to 40 individuals, though smaller groups are more common. They are highly social, with strong bonds between group members, and communicate through a variety of vocalisations, including chirps, whistles, and alarm calls. Their days are spent foraging, resting, and moving through the canopy, rarely descending to the forest floor. The black bearded saki’s presence is often marked by the sound of falling fruit and the rustle of leaves as they leap from branch to branch.

Black Bearded Saki Chiropotes satanasBlack Bearded Saki Chiropotes satanasBlack Bearded Saki Chiropotes satanas

Threats

The greatest risks for the future survival of the Black Bearded Saki, also known as the Black Cuxiú are the loss and fragmentation of their habitat and hunting pressure.
IUCN Red list

Palm oil, meat, and soy deforestation

The black bearded saki is classified as Endangered on the Red List, with the loss and fragmentation of their forest habitat the primary threat to their survival. In the north-eastern Amazon, large-scale infrastructure projects—such as highways and the Tucurúi Dam—have destroyed vast tracts of forest, while smaller-scale logging and agriculture continue to fragment the remaining habitat. The forest, once a living, breathing entity, is being replaced by roads, fields, and settlements, leaving only isolated patches where the black bearded saki can survive. This fragmentation isolates populations, reduces genetic diversity, and increases the risk of disease and local extinction. The black bearded saki’s ability to adapt to habitat loss is limited, and their long-term survival depends on the protection and restoration of connected forest landscapes.

Hunting and poaching

Hunting for bushmeat is a persistent threat to the black bearded saki, with individuals targeted for their meat and, in some cases, their tails, which are used as dusters. The influx of people into previously uninhabited areas of the Amazon has increased hunting pressure, and the loss of habitat makes sakis more vulnerable to capture. Hunting disrupts social groups, reduces population numbers, and threatens the genetic health of remaining populations. The black bearded saki is already locally extinct in much of its original range, and continued hunting could push them closer to extinction.

Habitat fragmentation and climate change

The fragmentation of the Amazon’s forests has profound effects on the black bearded saki. Small, isolated forest patches limit the availability of food and mates, and groups living in these fragments often show reduced movement and vocalisation, as well as increased resting. Population densities in small fragments can increase, leading to higher rates of disease and parasite transmission. Climate change adds further pressure, altering rainfall patterns and the availability of key food sources. The black bearded saki’s world is becoming hotter, drier, and less predictable, with the forests they depend on shrinking year by year.

Diet

Black bearded sakis are among the most specialised seed dispersers in the Amazon, with seeds making up the majority of their diet. They spend at least 75% of their feeding time consuming seeds from more than 50 different fruit species, using their powerful jaws and specialised teeth to crack open hard-shelled fruits that few other animals can access. Their diet also includes ripe fruit, flowers, leaf stalks, and arthropods such as caterpillars, termites, and gall wasps. The black bearded saki’s foraging habits are closely tied to the seasonal availability of fruit, with peak feeding activity during the rainy season when many trees are fruiting. Their role as seed predators helps shape the composition of the forest, and their ability to exploit hard-shelled fruits gives them a unique niche in the ecosystem.

Reproduction and Mating

Little is known about the reproductive habits of black bearded sakis in the wild, but observations in captivity and from related species suggest that births occur at the beginning of the rainy season, typically in December or January. Gestation is estimated to last four to five months, and females give birth to a single infant. The mother is the primary caregiver, nursing and carrying her young until the infant is weaned at around three months of age. After weaning, infants remain close to their mothers for protection, and strong social bonds within the group help ensure the survival of young sakis. The reproductive success of black bearded sakis is closely tied to the availability of food and the stability of their forest home.

Geographic Range

The black bearded saki is endemic to the far eastern Amazon in Brazil, with a range restricted to a relatively small region from the Tocantins River in Pará east to around the Grajaú River in Maranhão. They inhabit primary terra firme forests and, occasionally, regenerating forests, rarely descending to the forest floor. The natural home range of a black bearded saki group can vary from 200 to 250 hectares, but habitat loss and fragmentation have reduced the size and connectivity of these ranges. The black bearded saki is already locally extinct in much of its original range, and the remaining populations are increasingly isolated and vulnerable.

FAQs

How many black bearded sakis are left?

Estimates suggest that fewer than 2,500 mature black bearded sakis remain in the wild, with populations continuing to decline due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and hunting. The species is already locally extinct in much of its original range, and the remaining individuals are scattered across increasingly isolated forest fragments.

What are the characteristics of the black bearded saki?

The black bearded saki is a medium-sized primate with thick, dark fur and a distinctive, flowing beard. Adults typically measure around 50 centimetres in length, with a tail nearly as long as their body, and weigh between 2.5 and 3.5 kilograms. They are highly specialised seed predators, with powerful jaws and unique dentition that allow them to crack open hard-shelled fruits. Black bearded sakis live in social groups, communicate through a variety of vocalisations, and spend most of their lives in the upper canopy.

What do black bearded saki eat?

Black bearded sakis are highly specialised seed predators, with seeds making up the vast majority of their diet. They spend at least 75% of their feeding time consuming seeds from more than 50 different fruit species, using their robust jaws and specialised teeth to crack open hard-shelled fruits that many other animals cannot access. Their diet also includes fleshy fruits and, to a lesser extent, insects. They are particularly fond of plants from the Sapotaceae, Lecythidaceae, and Chrysobalanaceae families. This dietary flexibility allows black bearded sakis to adapt to changing forest conditions, but their reliance on certain tree species makes them vulnerable to habitat loss and selective logging.

Is the black bearded saki a monkey?

Yes, the black bearded saki is a monkey—specifically, a New World monkey native to the Amazon rainforest. Unlike apes, monkeys have tails, and the black bearded saki’s long, muscular tail helps them balance as they move through the trees. They are part of the bearded saki group, known for their robust build, thick fur, and specialised feeding habits.

What are the main threats to the survival of the black bearded saki?

The main threats to the survival of the black bearded saki are habitat loss and fragmentation caused by infrastructure projects, logging, and agriculture, as well as hunting for bushmeat. The loss of forest isolates populations, reduces genetic diversity, and increases the risk of disease and local extinction. Hunting further reduces population numbers and disrupts social groups.

How does habitat fragmentation affect the black bearded saki?

Habitat fragmentation isolates black bearded saki groups, reducing the availability of food and mates and increasing the risk of disease. Groups living in small, isolated forest patches often show reduced movement and vocalisation, as well as increased resting. Population densities in small fragments can increase, leading to higher rates of disease and parasite transmission. The black bearded saki’s ability to adapt to habitat loss is limited, and their long-term survival depends on the protection and restoration of connected forest landscapes.

Do black bearded sakis make good pets?

Black bearded sakis do not make good pets. Captivity causes extreme stress, loneliness, and early death for these highly social, intelligent primates. The pet trade and hunting for bushmeat rip families apart and fuel extinction, as infants are stolen from their mothers and forced into unnatural, impoverished conditions. Protecting black bearded sakis means rejecting the illegal pet trade and supporting their right to live wild and free in their forest home.

Where do bearded sakis live?

Bearded sakis, including the black bearded saki, are endemic to the Amazon rainforest in South America. The black bearded saki specifically inhabits a small region in north-eastern Brazil, from the Tocantins River in Pará east to the Grajaú River in Maranhão. They prefer primary tropical rainforests with dense, continuous canopies, which provide safety from predators and abundant food sources. Their natural home ranges can vary from 200 to 250 hectares, but habitat fragmentation has dramatically reduced the size and connectivity of these ranges. Today, black bearded sakis are found only in scattered forest fragments, making their survival increasingly precarious.

What is the lifespan of a black bearded saki?

The lifespan of the black bearded saki is estimated to be up to 18 years in the wild, with sexual maturity typically reached at around 4 years of age. Females usually give birth every two years, and the long interval between births suggests a relatively slow reproductive rate. Closely related bearded saki species have been known to live up to 20 years in the wild, though specific data for the black bearded saki remains limited. Their longevity is closely tied to the quality and continuity of their forest habitat, with threats such as habitat destruction and hunting potentially reducing average lifespans in fragmented environments

Take Action!

Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife. Support indigenous-led conservation and agroecology. Reject products linked to deforestation, mining, and the illegal wildlife trade. Adopt a #vegan lifestyle and #BoycottMeat to protect wild and farmed animals alike. Every choice matters—stand with the black bearded saki and defend the forests of the Amazon.

Black Bearded Saki Chiropotes satanasBlack Bearded Saki Chiropotes satanas

You can support this beautiful animal

There are no known conservation activities for this animal. Share out this post to social media and join the #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife on social media to raise awareness

Further Information

Boubli, J. P., de Lima, E. M., Silva, M. N. F., & Silva Júnior, J. S. (2009). Bearded sakis in south-eastern Amazonia—back from the brink? Oryx, 43(2), 283–288. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/bearded-sakis-in-southeastern-amazoniaback-from-the-brink/703BC0853B02C2FB8017AD73EDA6BAB8

Neprimateconservancy.org. (n.d.). Black Bearded Saki, Chiropotes satanas. https://neprimateconservancy.org/black-bearded-saki/

Port-Carvalho, M., Muniz, C.C., Fialho, M.S., Alonso, A.C., Jerusalinsky, L. & Veiga, L.M. 2021. Chiropotes satanas (amended version of 2020 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T39956A191704509. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T39956A191704509.en. Downloaded on 05 June 2021.

van Roosmalen, M. G. M., Mittermeier, R. A., & Fleagle, J. G. (1988). Diet of the northern bearded saki (Chiropotes satanas chiropotes): A neotropical seed predator. American Journal of Primatology, 14(1), 11–35. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.1350140103

Veiga, L. M., & Ferrari, S. F. (2007). Conservation status of the black-bearded saki Chiropotes satanas in Maranhão, Brazil. International Journal of Primatology, 28(2), 347–358. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-007-9146-6

Wikipedia. (n.d.). Black bearded saki. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_bearded_saki

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Black Bearded Saki Chiropotes satanas close-up of face

Pensive Primate. #Chimpanzee #Primate #Wildlife #ZooLife #AnimalPhotography #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #ThoughtfulAnimal #AnimalPortrait #GreatApe #smartphonephotography #photography

A light-furred chimpanzee with a pink face is captured in a close-up, full-body portrait. The chimp is squatting on a light-coloured floor with some straw scattered around, and a dark, indistinct background. Its arms are wrapped around its knees, and it is looking directly forward with a soft, contemplative expression. The image is well-lit, highlighting the textures of its fur and the details of its hands and face.

Gibbon à Mains Blanches #animaux #animals #photography #photoanimalière #singe #monkey #ape #grandsinge #gibbon #primate

Transcendental Primate
(ink on paper, 2020)

#drawing #primate #monkey

Gibbon song may be music to the ears of human language students

#Gibbons and humans have more in common than might immediately seem apparent. Among many behavioural traits shared by our two species is singing. Not just that – the songs of gibbons have the potential to teach us about the origin of our own human capacities. Many are threatened by #palmoil #deforestation 🌳✨ #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife

https://youtu.be/82j8CczfP_4

🎶 🐵 #Gibbons are musical maestros. Their songs unlock the secrets of human language. Let’s protect them and their symphony. Many are threatened by #palmoil #deforestation 🌳✨ #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/21/gibbon-song-may-be-music-to-the-ears-of-human-language-students/

Background

The Japanese research emerges from a framework in evolutionary studies (with papers such as this one, this one and this one and here) in which cross-species comparison permits speculation on the origin of human capacities.

Among the features of gibbon behaviour that correspond to humans are:

monogamy, and the “nuclear family”
voice development in adolescence, especially in the male
the capacity for upright posture
vocal duetting in which male and female have acoustically complementary ranges, the adult male’s voice being lower than the female’s.

Walking instruments

As Martin Braun reminds us, all mammals are walking wind instruments. Research in acoustic communication addresses several key questions, among them:

how sound is produced anatomically
whether it is learned or stereotypical (the aspect of acquisition)
what social or intra-specific purpose it serves
the nature of the neural networks responsible for its perception and production

Back to the study

The authors of the AJPA study are interested in all of these interrelated factors. But their paper focuses in particular on the way the distinct acoustic signal (or sound) of female gibbons is produced and what this tells us about the feedback loop between sound-production and self-perception in the subject.

At the core of the AJPA study is a series of experiments – first modelled on a computer and then carried out in the laboratory – designed to test a rather complex theory: that female gibbons have the ability to modify the configuration of their vocal tracts in order to amplify signals in a specific range.

In this range, their voices are capable of extraordinarily effective exploitation of limited anatomical means.

In other words, humans and gibbons have both evolved neural control over their respiratory tracts. It is therefore what the brain achieves that allows this level of performance: the vocal tracts themselves are not especially well-suited to their task!

The rowdy, singing gibbon gang – all of them are endangered by deforestation

Pileated Gibbon Hylobates pileatus

Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolock

Eastern Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock leuconedys

Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock tianxing

Kloss’s Gibbon Hylobates klossii

Bornean White-bearded Gibbon Hylobates albibarbis

Müller’s gibbon Hylobates muelleri

Silvery Gibbon Hylobates moloch

Abbott’s Gray Gibbon Hylobates abbotti

Lar Gibbon Hylobates lar

Northern Gray Gibbon Hylobates funereus

Tonkin Black Crested Gibbon Nomascus concolor ssp. concolor

Red-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus gabriellae

Southern White-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus siki

Northern Yellow-cheeked Crested Gibbon Nomascus annamensis

Northern White-cheeked Gibbon Nomascus leucogenys

Cao-vit Gibbon Nomascus nasutus

Black Crested Gibbon Nomascus concolor

Hainan Gibbon Nomascus hainanus

Agile Gibbon Hylobates agilis

#animalBehaviour #AnimalBiodiversityNews #animals #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottPalmOil #deforestation #Gibbon #Gibbons #language #monkey #palmoil #Primate #songs

Where musical instruments such as flutes and trumpets have relatively fixed properties of bore, length and shape, the respiratory tracts of mammals are capable of modification in a variety of ways, including:

lowering of the larynx
adaptation of the posture of the larynx
lifting of the soft palate
nasalisation
adaptation of the shape of the mouth
position and posture of the tongue, and
adaptation of the opening of the lips.

Significantly, all of these are more-or-less involved in the production of the variety of sounds on which language tends to depend.

But the aim of the Japanese research was to explore whether gibbons “tune” the shaping of their throats, mouths and lips to the frequencies generated by their vocal folds.

It’s a gas

The researchers used helium in their experiments. The use of helium as the medium in which the gibbon vocalised is thus a means of ascertaining how the subject responded to the effect – which in humans tends to shift the resonant frequencies of the voice towards “squeaky” higher “formants” (the acoustic response within an instrument – or voice – that defines the quality of sound, or timbre).

As in humans, gibbon vocalisation in the helium condition resulted in a shift of resonance to higher formants. Significantly, this was more pronounced in the higher range of the gibbon calls. This higher range marks their characteristic achievement of high-intensity vocal production able to carry over distance.

If this suggests parallels with human singing, it’s worth spelling out that all female gibbons achieve this remarkable capacity for self-amplification instinctively. Gibbon song is not learned – the ability is hard-wired.

By contrast, the opera singers to which the study’s title refers achieve a parallel ability only after careful training.

To hear the more effortlessly competent performance of a variety of gibbon species, a visit to Thomas Geissmann’s impressive gibbon research website is warmly recommended.

What comes next?

The research done by Nishimura and team opens up some fascinating avenues for follow-up studies, including:

replication with human subjects, both expert singers and non-singers
replication with other primate species (this is, apparently, underway)
play-back of the helium-condition calls to conspecifics (as well as being great vocalisers, gibbons are sophisticated listeners. The purpose of studying this area further would be to see whether other gibbons recognised in any way the humanly distorted recordings as gibbon-song)

One of the most interesting things about gibbon/human voice comparison is how easy it is for suitably uninhibited humans to elicit vocal responses from gibbons by imitating their song.

This doesn’t work for many species – try it out on most dogs, cats, horses, chimpanzees and you will encounter failure … or worse. https://www.youtube.com/embed/iAmx_XdQky8?wmode=transparent&start=0

But gibbons safely contained behind barriers are remarkably tolerant of human attempts at their song. I have personal experience of this at Twycross Zoo in the UK and Perth Zoo in Australia. My youngest son, when a boy treble, was able to imitate female gibbon calls with considerable accuracy.

This seems consistent with his ability to perform the high-lying solos in works such as Allegri’s Miserere that require precisely the acoustic control explored in this study, and whose range conforms to that in which the gibbons sing most effectively.

So some investigation of similarities with the voices of pre-adolescents in both species might also be of interest, especially with a view to tracing the means by which the ability is acquired in gibbons.

While the gibbon call is clearly acquired as a means of high-intensity transmission that permits communication across distance in dense rainforest vegetation, I have heard gibbons “rehearsing” precisely the same songs quietly: a solitary female in an isolated pen at Twycross Zoo in the UK; and two juveniles in quarantine under the supervision of their curator at Perth Zoo in Australia.

This adds additional dimensions of the roles of energy and pragmatics to the findings of this study: it illustrates that, while gibbons are capable, much like human sopranos, of ear-splitting volume, they can also achieve the same calls quietly.

In “engineering” terms this means they can control breath-flow alongside the “tuning” effects already described.

Investigation of these features would be of interest in order to tease out implications of this study for the evolution of human language.

Nicholas Bannan, Professor in Music Education, University of Western Australia. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei

Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei

Red List Status: Endangered

Locations: Western Assam (India), Black Mountain (Bhutan), Manas National Park, Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Kakoijana Reserve Forest, and forest fragments along the foothills of the Himalayas.

The regal, striking looking Golden #langurs Trachypithecus geei is also known by the common names Gee’s Golden #langur. They are the most endangered primate species in #India and are considered to be sacred to many Himalayan peoples. Once widespread, they are now only found in a handful of fragmented forests straddling India and Bhutan. They are classified as endangered due to #palmoil, #meat and #timber #deforestation and hunting. Golden langurs are known for their expressive eyes and grumpy expressions. This has made them the subject of global fascination and online memes. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan, #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife

Golden #Langurs 🙉🐒 are the most #endangered primate in #India 🇮🇳🪷 threatened by #palmoil and #meat #deforestation. Help save them and #Boycottpalmoil 🌴🩸🚜🔥☠️❌ #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket! @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/03/19/golden-langur-trachypithecus-geei/

Regal and striking Golden #Langurs are known for their grumpy faces 🙊🐒 😠They have reason to be annoyed #Assam #India 🇮🇳 is being destroyed for #palmoil #deforestation. Fight for them when you shop! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2023/03/19/golden-langur-trachypithecus-geei/

https://youtu.be/F9iyXroZM4Y

Appearance & Behaviour

Adults golden langurs are striking with their vivid black faces framed by a mane of pale hair, and their expressive, deep-set eyes reflect intelligence and curiosity. By contrast, infant langurs are born with cream-coloured fur that darkens as they mature. Golden langurs are medium-sized primates, with males weighing up to 13 kilograms and females slightly less. Their long tails, often longer than their bodies, help them balance as they leap gracefully between branches. Golden langurs are highly social, living in groups of up to 40 individuals, and communicate with a repertoire of calls, grunts, and alarm barks. They spend most of their lives high in the trees, rarely descending to the ground, and their movements are fluid and silent, like shadows flickering through the leaves.

Golden Langur Eyes: Windows to Intelligent Souls

The eyes of a golden langur are truly captivating, reminiscent of the molten gold in the dappled sunlight of their forest home in India. These golden langur eyes are the subject of countless online memes, possibly because of their human-like expressions. The expressive eyes of golden langurs convey a range of emotions that resonate deeply with people. Their gaze can appear curious, contemplative, cantankerous, moody or even agitated, making these animals relatable and endearing to a broad audience. This relatability, combined with their striking appearance, makes golden langur eyes a perfect focal point for memes, highlighting the beauty of these monkeys and the importance of conserving their natural habitats.

Golden langurs are heavily dependent upon forests for their ongoing existence. They are diurnal, preferring to forage in the morning and afternoon with a midday siesta. They spend most of the time in tree canopies and rarely come down to the ground.

Social grooming and social interaction is important to Golden langurs and they typically live in troops of between 8 to 50 individuals with several females to each adult male. Grooming is an important social activity and strengthens connection between group members.

Threats

Palm oil, timber, charcoal and livestock deforestation

The Red List classifies the golden langur as Endangered, with palm oil expansion and deforestation for charcoal, livestock and timber as major drivers of habitat loss. Vast tracts of forest have been cleared for plantations and farmland, leaving the golden langur’s habitat fragmented and isolated. As the forest disappears, langur groups are forced into ever-smaller patches, increasing competition for food and shelter and exposing them to greater risks from predators and humans. The relentless pace of deforestation threatens to erase the golden langur from much of their former range, turning once-vibrant forests into silent, empty fields.

Logging and habitat fragmentation

Logging has carved roads and clearings through the golden langur’s habitat, severing the canopy highways they rely on for movement and social cohesion. Fragmentation isolates groups, reducing genetic diversity and making populations more vulnerable to disease and environmental change. In some areas, only a handful of individuals remain, cut off from neighbouring groups by expanses of cleared land. The scars of logging are visible everywhere—fallen trees, eroded soil, and the distant sound of chainsaws echoing through the forest.

Human-wildlife conflict, poaching and the illegal pet trade

As forests shrink, golden langurs are increasingly forced into contact with humans, leading to conflict and persecution. Some are killed or captured for the illegal pet trade. There is a high rate of juvenile mortality and inbreeding when golden langurs are collected as pets. This is a cruel and devastating fate for any golden langurs who are captured. Some golden langurs fall victim to retaliatory attacks when they raid crops. Snares and traps set for other animals can maim or kill golden langurs. Unexpected human-caused deaths exert a heavy toll on wild troops and their social cohesion and structure. Poaching remains a persistent threat, fuelled by demand for exotic pets and body parts in Chinese medicine.

Climate change

Shifting rainfall patterns and rising temperatures threaten to alter the delicate balance of the Himalayan forests. Changes in fruiting and flowering times can disrupt the golden langur’s food supply, while extreme weather events—such as floods and landslides—destroy habitat and isolate populations even further. The golden langur’s survival is now tied to the fate of the forests and the stability of the climate.

Habitat & geographical region

The golden langur’s range is restricted to the forests of western Assam in India and the Black Mountain region of Bhutan. Key strongholds include Manas National Park, Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Kakoijana Reserve Forest, and a scattering of forest fragments along the Himalayan foothills. Once widespread, the golden langur now survives in isolated pockets, their habitat reduced and fragmented by decades of deforestation and human encroachment.

Diet

The Golden langur is primarily folivorous, feeding on a diverse array of young leaves, fruits, flowers, and seeds. Their diet shifts with the seasons, following the cycles of fruiting and leaf flush in the forest. In times of scarcity, they may consume bark, twigs, or cultivated crops, bringing them into conflict with farmers. Golden langurs are selective feeders, choosing the most nutritious and digestible parts of plants, and their foraging plays a vital role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration.

Mating and reproduction

Golden langurs breed throughout the year, with a peak in births during the late monsoon and early winter months. Females give birth to a single infant after a gestation period of around 200 days. The newborns are born with lighter fur, which darkens as they mature, and are cared for by their mothers and other group members in a system of cooperative parenting. Social bonds are strong, with frequent grooming and play reinforcing relationships within the group. Infants cling tightly to their mothers as the group moves through the canopy, learning the skills they will need to survive in a challenging and ever-changing environment. The average lifespan of a golden langur in the wild is estimated at around 15 to 20 years, though few reach this age due to the many threats they face.

FAQs

What is the current population size of the golden langur Trachypithecus geei?

Estimates suggest that fewer than 6,500 golden langurs remain in the wild, with populations continuing to decline due to ongoing habitat loss, fragmentation, and poaching. The largest populations are found in Manas National Park and the surrounding forests of Assam and Bhutan, but even here, numbers are falling as forests are cleared for agriculture and plantations. Researchers warn that without urgent action, the golden langur could disappear from much of their current range within a generation (Biswas et al., 2024; Das et al., 2021).

How long do golden langurs live in the wild?

Golden langurs can live up to 20 years in the wild, though most do not reach this age due to threats from habitat loss, poaching, and conflict with humans. In captivity, some individuals have lived longer, but the stresses of confinement and social isolation take a heavy toll on their health and wellbeing. The golden langur’s longevity is closely tied to the health of their forest home and the strength of their social bonds (Das et al., 2021).

What are the main conservation challenges for the golden langur?

The greatest challenges facing the golden langur are palm oil, charcoal and meat deforestation, human-wildlife conflict, poaching and collection for the illegal pet trade. These threats destroy the forests these remarkable primates depend on, isolate populations, and expose them to increased risk of disease and predation. Effective protection requires indigenous-led conservation, agroecology, and the safeguarding of forest ecosystems from further destruction. Help them every time you shop and be #Vegan #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife (Biswas et al., 2020; Das et al., 2021).

Do golden langurs make good pets?

Absolutely not! Golden langurs do not make good pets. Captivity causes extreme stress, loneliness, and early death for these highly social, intelligent primates. The illegal pet trade tears families apart and fuels extinction, as infants are stolen from their mothers and forced into unnatural, impoverished conditions. Protecting golden langurs means rejecting the illegal pet trade and supporting their right to live wild and free in their forest homes (Das et al., 2021).

Take Action!

Use your wallet as a weapon and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife. Support indigenous-led conservation and agroecology. Reject products linked to deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade. Adopt a #vegan lifestyle and #BoycottMeat to protect wild and farmed animals alike. Every choice matters—stand with the golden langur and defend the forests of Assam and Bhutan.

Spectacled bear sticking out his tongue by Natalia So for Getty Images

Support the conservation of this species

This animal has no protections in place. Read about other forgotten species here. Create art to support this forgotten animal or raise awareness about them by sharing this post and using the #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife hashtags on social media. Also you can boycott palm oil in the supermarket.

Further Information

Biswas, J., Shil, J., Sasi, R., Ahmed, M. U., Barman, K., Das, N., Basumatary, B., & Kumara, H. N. (2024). Ecological determinants of occupancy of golden langur Trachypithecus geei and its population characteristics in India. Global Ecology and Conservation, 53, e03003. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03003

Das, J., Medhi, R. & Molur, S. 2008. Trachypithecus geei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T22037A9348940. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T22037A9348940.en. Accessed on 12 November 2022.

Gee’s Golden Langur Trachypithecus geei on Wikipedia

An Indian documentary about the dangers of consuming palm oil

https://youtu.be/eScpF9ruI80

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy

https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20

https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20

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#animals #Assam #Bhutan #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #ChineseMedicine #climateChange #deforestation #endangered #EndangeredSpecies #ForgottenAnimals #GoldenLangurTrachypithecusGeei #herbivore #herbivores #humanWildlifeConflict #hunting #illegalPetTrade #India #langur #Langurs #livestock #Mammal #meat #meatAgriculture #monkey #monkeys #PalmOil #palmOilDeforestation #palmoil #poachers #poaching #Primate #timber #vegan

Silvery Gibbon Hylobates moloch

Red List Status: Endangered

Locations: Indonesia (island of Java, including provinces of Banten, West Java, and Central Java as far east as the Dieng Mountains)

The Silvery #Gibbon 🩶🐒🐵 of genus ‘Hylobates’ meaning ‘Forest Walker’. They sing to each other in ‘local’ accents and do thrilling acrobatics 🤸‍♂️ They are #endangered, help them to survive! #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🔥⛔️ @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2021/02/06/silvery-gibbon-hylobates-moloch/

The Silvery Gibbon belongs to the genus Hylobates. The word Hylobates means ‘Forest Walker’ in Greek. The gibbons in this genus are known for the white circle of fur around their faces. They are known to communicate in species-specific song when defining territory or attracting mates. They sing in regional accents to each other, have long swinging arms, inquisitive natures and superior acrobatic skills, they spend most of their lives high up in the tree-tops.

Appearance & Behaviour

Silvery gibbons are small apes, their bodies draped in long, silvery-grey fur with a dark grey or black cap on their heads and a distinctive fringe of white or light grey around their dark faces. Adults typically weigh around 6 kilograms, with males and females similar in size. Their arms are exceptionally long, spanning twice their body length, allowing them to brachiate—swing hand over hand—through the treetops with remarkable speed and agility. Unlike many other gibbon species, silvery gibbons do not sing duets; instead, it is the females who dominate the morning chorus with loud, haunting calls that echo through the forest. These family groups, usually consisting of a monogamous pair and their offspring, move together through the canopy, their movements fluid and almost effortless.

Threats

Palm oil and agricultural deforestation

Silvery gibbons face severe pressure from the ongoing loss of their forest habitat. In Java, particularly in Banten Province, deforestation is accelerating at a high rate. The conversion of forests to agricultural land, including palm oil plantations and other crops, leaves behind only isolated fragments of habitat. This fragmentation forces gibbons into ever-smaller territories, increasing stress and competition for resources. The once-continuous canopy that silvery gibbons depend on is being replaced by agricultural fields, making survival increasingly difficult for these arboreal primates.

Illegal pet trade, illegal poaching and hunting

Silvery gibbons are targeted by hunters for both meat and the illegal pet trade. Poachers often kill adult gibbons to capture infants, who are then sold as pets in markets throughout Indonesia. This practice not only removes individuals from the wild but also disrupts family groups and weakens the social structure essential for gibbon survival. The illegal pet trade remains a persistent and devastating threat, driven by demand for exotic animals and compounded by the ongoing destruction of their natural habitat.

Timber logging and habitat fragmentation

Logging operations further degrade and fragment the remaining forest habitat of silvery gibbons. Roads and clearings cut through the forest, severing the vital canopy connections that gibbons rely on for movement and social interaction. Fragmentation isolates populations, reducing genetic diversity and making them more vulnerable to disease and environmental change. In many areas, only small, isolated groups of gibbons remain, cut off from neighbouring populations by cleared land.

Climate change

Shifting rainfall patterns and rising temperatures threaten to alter the delicate balance of Indonesia’s forests. Changes in fruiting and flowering times can disrupt the silvery gibbon’s food supply, while extreme weather events destroy habitat and isolate populations even further. The silvery gibbon’s world is becoming hotter, drier, and less predictable, with the forests they depend on shrinking year by year.

Diet

Silvery gibbons are primarily frugivorous, with fruit making up about 61% of their diet and leaves accounting for another 38%. They also consume flowers and, to a lesser extent, insects. The silvery gibbon’s foraging is a daily journey through the treetops, as they search for scattered fruit-bearing trees. Their home ranges average between 17 and 60 hectares, and several families may share overlapping territories, especially where fruit is abundant. The rhythm of their feeding is woven into the life of the forest, as they play a vital role in seed dispersal and the regeneration of their ecosystem.

Mating & Reproduction

The Silvery Gibbon is considered Endangered based on a suspected population reduction of 50% or more over the course of three generations (2001-2015, 2016-2030, 2031-2045). This ongoing decline is due to the combined threats of forest habitat loss and hunting for subsistence purposes, in addition to supplying the pet trade.
IUCN Red List

Silvery gibbons are monogamous, forming lifelong pair bonds. There is no set breeding season, and females give birth to a single infant after a gestation period of about seven to eight months. The mother carries her baby close for the first year, nursing and protecting it as the family group moves through the forest. Weaning occurs at around 18 months, and offspring remain with their parents until they reach maturity at about eight years of age, when they leave to form their own families. The family unit is tight-knit, with both parents sharing in the care of their young and strong emotional bonds that are essential for survival in a changing world.

Geographic Range

Silvery gibbons are endemic to the island of Java, Indonesia, with their range primarily in the (still forested) western regions of Banten and West Java, and extending into parts of Central Java as far east as the Dieng Mountains. They inhabit lowland and lower montane rainforests up to 2,400 metres above sea level, though they are most commonly found below 1,600 metres. Their historical range has contracted dramatically due to deforestation and human infrastructure development, and they are now restricted to fragmented forest patches. The sounds of the silvery gibbon—once a common feature of Java’s forests—are now tragically heard in very few places.

FAQs

How many silvery gibbons are left?

Estimates suggest that fewer than 2,500 mature silvery gibbons remain in the wild, with populations continuing to decline due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and the illegal pet trade. In some areas, fewer than 2,000 individuals are considered genetically viable for the continuation of the species. The silvery gibbon’s future is precarious, and urgent action is needed to prevent their extinction.

What are the characteristics of the silvery gibbon?

Silvery gibbons are small, slender apes with long, silvery-grey fur and a dark cap on their heads. They lack a tail, and their arms are exceptionally long—up to twice their body length—allowing them to brachiate through the forest canopy with remarkable speed and grace. Adults typically weigh between 6 and 8 kilograms, with males slightly larger than females. Silvery gibbons are strictly arboreal, rarely descending to the forest floor, and live in small, monogamous family groups. The female leads the morning chorus with haunting, resonant calls that can be heard for up to a kilometre.

Is a silvery gibbon a monkey?

A silvery gibbon is not a monkey, but a lesser ape. The primary difference between a lesser ape (like a gibbon) and a monkey is that apes, including lesser apes, do not have tails, while most monkeys do. Additionally, apes are generally larger and have broader chests, while monkeys tend to be smaller and have narrower chests. Apes also have shoulder joints that allow for brachiation—swinging through trees—and some species exhibit higher intelligence and tool use. Lesser apes, such as gibbons and siamangs, are smaller than the great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, and humans) but share these key anatomical and behavioural traits. In contrast, most monkeys have tails, which they use for balance, and are more adapted to running along branches rather than swinging through the trees. While monkeys are intelligent, apes generally exhibit more complex cognitive abilities and social behaviours.

Why will the silvery gibbon become extinct in the next decade?

The silvery gibbon faces multiple, compounding threats that make extinction within the next decade a real possibility. Habitat loss due to deforestation has reduced their forest home to less than 4% of its original extent. Fragmentation isolates populations, making them more vulnerable to disease and genetic decline. The illegal pet trade continues to remove individuals from the wild, and climate change is altering the availability of food and water. Without urgent, large-scale intervention, the silvery gibbon is likely to disappear from much of its remaining range.

Are gibbon monkeys aggressive?

Gibbons, including silvery gibbons, are not monkeys but lesser apes. In their natural environment, silvery gibbons are highly territorial and will defend their home range with vocalisations and, if necessary, physical displays. Males and females both play a role in defending their territory, with the female’s morning calls and the male’s aggressive responses to intruders. Within the family group, silvery gibbons are generally peaceful and nurturing, with strong social bonds between parents and offspring. In captivity, gibbons can show aggression during introductions or when resources are contested, but this is not typical of their behaviour in the wild.

Are silvery gibbons Endangered?

Yes, the silvery gibbon is classified as Endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species. Their population is estimated at fewer than 2,500 mature individuals and is declining due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and the illegal pet trade. The silvery gibbon’s survival is at risk, and their future depends on the protection of remaining forest habitat and the reduction of human-induced threats

Take Action!

Further Information

Kim, S., Lappan, S., & Choe, J. C. (2010). Diet and ranging behavior of the endangered Javan gibbon (Hylobates moloch) in a submontane tropical rainforest. American Journal of Primatology, 72(10), 991–1000. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajp.20893

Nijman, V. 2020. Hylobates moloch. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T10550A17966495. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T 10550A17966495.en. Downloaded on 06 February 2021.

Reyes, K. R., Patel, U. A., Nunn, C. L., & Samson, D. R. (2021). Gibbon sleep quantified: The influence of lunar phase and meteorological variables on activity in Hylobates moloch and Hylobates pileatus. Primates, 62, 749–759. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34052907/

Silvery Gibbon Hylobates moloch

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy

https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20

https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20

https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20

4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.

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#Ape #apes #BanPrimateExperiments #Boycott4wildlife #BoycottMeat #BoycottPalmOil #endangered #EndangeredSpecies #ForgottenAnimals #forgottenanimal #frugivore #Gibbon #Gibbons #illegalPetTrade #Indonesia #Indonesian #infrastructure #Java #Javan #Mammal #palmoil #Primate #primates #roads #SilveryGibbonHylobatesMoloch #timber #vegan #wildlifetrade

Buffy-tufted-ear Marmoset Callithrix aurita

Buffy-tufted-ear Marmoset Callithrix aurita

Red List Status: Endangered

Locations: Brazil (Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Minas Gerais)

Buffy-tufted-ear Marmosets have dramatically rimmed eyes giving them a delightful “Gothic appearance. These enchanting and charismatic #monkeys live deep in the forests of a tiny area of #Brazil. Buffy-tufted-ear #Marmosets are also known as buffy tufted-ear mamosets or the white-eared marmosets. They are New World monkeys living in a geographically isolated region in the Atlantic coast that has been decimated for #palmoil, #soy and #cattle ranching agriculture and #goldmining. Help them every time you shop and be #vegan, #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife!

Striking “gothic” looking monkeys, Buffy-tufted-ear Marmosets are #endangered in #Brazil having lost 93% of their rainforest to #palmoil #soy and #cattle. Help them by going #vegan #Boycottpalmoil #Boycott4Wildlife @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2022/11/06/buffy-tufted-ear-marmoset-callithrix-aurita/

Just 7% of the Buffy-tufted-ear #Marmosets’ home remains in #Brazil 🇧🇷 they are on the edge of #extinction from #palmoil and #meat #deforestation. Fight for them and be #vegan 🍌🍉 #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife 🌴🪔☠️🩸🔥🧐🙈🚫 @palmoildetect https://palmoildetectives.com/2022/11/06/buffy-tufted-ear-marmoset-callithrix-aurita/

Mountain Marmosets Conservation Programme

Appearance & Behaviour

The Buffy-tufted-ear Marmoset slightly resemble Common Marmosets although they have shorter ear tufts than other marmosets and have a vivid and striking skull-like colouration on their faces, along with a brown crown and grey-black fur across their bodies. On average they weigh only 300 grams.

They have short snouts and flat noses with intense yellow eyes and a downturned mouth suggesting an attitude of eternal dissatisfaction.
‘The Battle to Save the Buffy Tufted Marmoset of Brazil’ Earth.org

“They generally live in small social groups numbering between 2-8 individuals and consist of a dominant breeding pair. Their juvenile offspring typically will remain in the family group until adulthood to assist their parents with the care of newborn infants.” ~ Earth.org.

They are arboreal and live almost all of their lives in the tree canopies – making them particularly vulnerable to deforestation for palm oil, soy, cattle ranching and mining in Brazil.

Threats

The widespread destruction of forests within this marmoset’s range, especially along the valley of the Rio Paraiba and in the lowland forests are a major threat to the Buffy-tufted-ear Marmoset.
They may remain in some areas of the lowland forest of Rio de Janeiro (Mambucaba, Angra dos Reis), but is considered extinct in lowland forests of São Paulo State (Brandão and Develey 1998).
IUCN RED List

Their traditional home the (once vast) Atlantic rainforest is now mostly destroyed with only 7% remaining standing in Brazil – what remains is severely fragmented. Other than deforestation for palm oil, soy and cattle ranching, they face a panoply of other threats including:

Yellow fever
Forest fires, floods and other climate change related extreme weather
Poaching for food
Collection for the pet trade
Forest fragments cut by roads pose a threat for collision with cars
Pollution run-off from agriculture
Hybridisation and interbreeding with other marmoset species.

Habitat

They are endemic to the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro of southeastern Brazil, within their montane rainforests of the inland plateau, at chilly dry-season altitudes of up to 1,300 metres. Buffy-tufted-ear marmoset populations inhabit these montane forests, with a few outlying populations in the foothills or lowland coastal forests.

Diet

They mostly feed on insects and occasionally flowering plants like fungi, cacti, soursops and legumes and invertebrates. If food is scarce they have been known to opportunistically hunt for small reptiles, amphibians, and small birds which they catch with their long claws before dispatching with a swift bite to the head.

As the forest disappears their food resources are stretched and they face competition from other species for food sources.

Mating and breeding

Buffy-tufted-ear Marmosets are greatly understudied and under-observed. Therefore little is known about their mating and reproduction. Their gestation period lasts around 170 days and there are typically fraternal offspring.

Buffy-tufted-ear marmosets have no formal protections in place and they need your help. Every time you shop, buy #vegan and #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

You can support this beautiful animal

There are no known formal conservation activities in place for this animal. Make sure that you #Boycottpalmoil and #Boycott4Wildlife in the supermarket and raise awareness of the plight of beautiful animals in order to support their survival! Find out more here

Further Information

de Melo, F.R., Port-Carvalho, M., Pereira, D.G., Ruiz-Miranda, C.R., Ferraz, D.S., Bicca-Marques, J.C., Jerusalinsky, L., Oliveira, L.C., Valença-Montenegro, M.M., Valle, R.R., da Cunha, R.G.T. & Mittermeier, R.A. 2021. Callithrix aurita (amended version of 2020 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T3570A191700629. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T3570A191700629.en. Accessed on 12 September 2022.

Buffy Tufted Marmoset on Wikipedia.

How can I help the #Boycott4Wildlife?

Take Action in Five Ways

Mel Lumby: Dedicated Devotee to Borneo’s Living Beings

The World’s Most Loved Cup: A Social, Ethical & Environmental History of Coffee by Aviary Doert

How do we stop the world’s ecosystems from going into a death spiral? A #SteadyState Economy

https://twitter.com/CuriousApe4/status/1526136783557529600?s=20

https://twitter.com/PhillDixon1/status/1749010345555788144?s=20

https://twitter.com/mugabe139/status/1678027567977078784?s=20

4. Take to the streets: Get in touch with Palm Oil Detectives to find out more.

5. Donate: Make a one-off or monthly donation to Palm Oil Detectives as a way of saying thank you and to help pay for ongoing running costs of the website and social media campaigns. Donate here