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Sanje Mangabey (Cercocebus sanjei)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 152510796

Population Viability of the Endangered Sanje Mangabey in the Udzungwa Mountains, Tanzania

Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation (Project No. 152510796) - Sanje Mangabey - Awarded $12,000 on November 01, 2015

The Bristol Zoological Society was established in 1835; it is one of the World's oldest zoos. The mission of the organization is to save wildlife through conservation action and engaging people with the natural world. We aim to achieve this by being a World Leader in conservation breeding, field programmes, veterinary science, research and education. The Society works throughout the globe on multiple threatened species and habitats; however, key areas of interest are Madagascar, South Africa, The Philippines, Columbia and Cameroon. The newest area of focus is the Udzungwa Mountains of Tanzania, which is the location of this proposed project.

 

The Sanje mangabey, Cercocebus sanjei, is an endangered primate endemic to the Udzungwa Mountains of south-central Tanzania. Its population, estimated at fewer than 1,500 individuals, is geographically isolated in two forest blocks of the Udzungwa Mountains. Only one of these populations is actively protected as it lies within the Udzungwa Mountains National Park. Thus, to ensure the survival of this species, we must first acquire knowledge on their reproductive biology, particularly their demography and life history, critical for developing informed measures of population viability and sustainable conservation plans. Currently, there is only one habituated research group of Sanje mangabeys, the Mizimu group. Since September January 2012, we have been monitoring the Mizimu group to (1) collect data on demography, including migration, births and mortality, and life history parameters (e.g., gestation length, inter-birth intervals, age at maturation, weaning); (2) keep the group habituated to human presence; and (3) help to protect the Sanje mangabey through a consistent research presence.

 

Project document