CONSERVATION STATUS
CITES:
Appendix II (http://www.cites.org)
IUCN Red List:
C.atys: LR/nt; C. a. lunulatus: CR A2cd
(http://www.redlist.org)
Photo: Kathelijne Koops
Sooty mangabeys are listed by the IUCN Redlist as Lower Risk/Near Threatened. This means that the
species has been evaluated by the IUCN but does not meet the criteria for the critically endangered,
endangered, or vulnerable classifications. It also means that the species is close to qualifying
for a vulnerable classification which stipulates that the species faces a high risk of extinction in
the medium-term future. The subspecies C. a. lunulatus is listed by the IUCN Redlist as being
critically endangered which means that the subspecies faces an extremely high risk of extinction in
the wild in the immediate future as defined by a reduction of at least 80%, projected or suspended
to be met within the next 10 years or three generations due to a decline in area of occupancy,
extent of occurrence and/or quality of habitat in addition to actual or potential levels of
exploitation (http://www.redlist.org). In fact, the IUCN Primate Specialist Group listed the
white-naped mangabey (C. a. lunulatus) as one of the world's 25 most endangered primates for the years
2004-2006 (Mittermeier et al. 2006). CITES only lists C. torquatus, of which C. atys is sometimes
considered a subspecies, in Appendix II. This means that the species is not necessarily now
threatened with extinction but may become so unless trade is closely controlled
(http://www.cites.org).
CONSERVATION THREATS
Threat: Human-Induced Habitat Loss and Degradation
Habitat destruction and hunting are the two most profound threats to the survival of the sooty
mangabey. Deforestation continues rapidly in many cases, averaging a decline between 1990 and 2000
at a yearly rate of between .2% and 3.1% of the total forest in the nations in which the
sooty mangabey is found. This deforestation is especially bad in Serra Leone and the Côte
d'Ivoire, which both averaged around a 3% yearly decline in forest cover (FAO 2001).
Threat: Harvesting (hunting/gathering)
In a
study of primate hunting in and around the Taï National Park, the current hunting harvest rate
of sooty mangabeys is more than three times that which would allow the species to reproductively
sustain itself (Refisch & Koné 2005a). For example, in 1999 the primate
bushmeat cull from the
Taï area was around a quarter of a million kilograms, mostly taken by professional hunters
(Refisch & Koné 2005b). In recent years, the area has seen a rise in hunting due to
four factors; an increase in the demand for wild meat, large scale commercial hunting increasing as
a viable income source, hunting technology improved resulting in more efficient hunting, and
finally, human immigration to the area has diluted former taboos against hunting primates in the
region (Refisch & Koné 2005a). Also, due to a lack of domestic animals, often bushmeat
is the only source of animal protein in local diets (Refisch & Koné 2005b). Some
suggested solutions to the threats to the sooty mangabey include joint anti-poaching patrols with
community members and park rangers working together, implementation of programs to help increase
the use of domestic animals and reduce the demand for bushmeat, a complete ban on hunting including
practical measures for enforcement, the curtailment of farming within protected areas and more
guards for protected habitats (Herbinger & Tounkara 2004; Refisch & Koné 2005a, 2005b).
LINKS TO MORE ABOUT CONSERVATION
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Content last modified: May 4, 2007
Written by Kurt Gron.
Cite this page as:
Gron KJ. 2007 May 4. Primate Factsheets: Sooty mangabey (Cercocebus atys) Conservation. <http://pin.primate.wisc.edu/factsheets/entry/sooty_mangabey/cons>. Accessed 2008 May 13.
