Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin

 Their Status:

In Trinidad and Tobago there are a wide variety of mammals that live here unlike any other island. Our islands lie the closest to South America meaning that we have both continental and tropical species of flora and fauna. The White-fronted Capuchin is a monkey that can be found in many South American countries such as Venezuela (the closest South American country to Trinidad and Tobago), Columbia, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, and Ecuador as well as in Trinidad and Tobago. Each country has its own subset or variation in the species that makes it unique. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature 2008, the Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin was declared as a critically endangered species with a total population size of 61 mature individuals in Trinidad and Tobago. When a species is critically endangered it means that the population size is less than 250 mature individuals. Since being classified as a critically endangered species there has been no further update on the population size of the Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin.

Figure 1: New England Primate Conservancy 2021

What caused them to become a Critically Endangered Species?

The decrease in the population of the Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin can be attributed to the constant encroachment on their habitats, due to the continuous need for land and lumber for residential or commercial infrastructure. This causes mass deforestation actions which greatly impact these monkeys. Another factor that may contribute to the reduction in the Capuchin population is poaching and trafficking of these exotic animals. Sometimes they are also captured and illegally kept as pets.

Figure 2: Bruce Farnsworth 2021

Why should we care about monkeys?

The diversity of our ecosystems is essential to the longevity of our natural environment. Monkeys in particular play a major role in dispersing the seeds of fruit trees throughout the tropical rainforest. If monkeys were to disappear completely, our forest would be fated to come to an end. In areas where monkeys are scarce, the frequency of fruit trees have declined, causing a less productive ecosystem resulting in the other species relying on these trees as a food source to suffer and decline in numbers.

Figure 3: Cari-Bois Environmental News Network 2021

What can we do about this?

The first thought that may come to mind is that we need legislation to help protect these animals. However, in Trinidad and Tobago all monkeys are protected under the Conservation of Wildlife Act. You must obtain a permit to hunt or capture monkeys which is inclusive of the Trinidad White-fronted Capuchin. Therefore, the next step would be implementing the laws in place to better protect our primates. Educating the general public on the importance of these monkeys in our natural environment will also help citizens understand why the monkeys should be protected. 

Figure 4: Premium Photo 2021

What do you think we can do to save our primates?

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