User:TJWinston12/Ape Action Africa


 * Ape Action Africa - Mefou.jpg Action Africa manages the rescue and rehabilitation of Great apes across much of Cameroon, with a large sanctuary in the Mefou forest. Some of these Apes include the Western gorilla, Western lowland gorilla, Cross River gorilla, and the Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee.


 * He has developed the veterinary team over the years and he now has two veterinary technicians to assist him in providing excellent veterinary care to hundreds of primates.[citation needed]



Threats to primates
Bushmeat- refers to raw or processed meat that comes from wild animals mainly in Africa. The meat is often smoke, dried, and salted in order to be sold at the markets. Bushmeat talks about a variety of wild animals such as snakes, antelope, rats, and primates. Bushmeat becomes a threat to primates because their meat is valuable. Since the apes don't reproduce as fast as other animals there is less supply so the meat is prized.

Scientific research- Biomedical researchers use primates as models for understanding human biology and as test subjects for the development of vaccines, drugs, and hormones (Conaway 2011). Many of these experiments require large numbers of primates; therefore biomedical facilities often require a continuous supply of primates.

Trafficking and capturing- captured primates are both legally and illegally sold to pet owners, zoos, tourist centers, and circuses.Once captured, primates may spend over a week in transit from a rural village to a coastal market. To make the transportation of primates more manageable, common trafficking strategies include sedation, asphyxiation, electrocution, and the removal of teeth. As these conditions severely affect the health of the trafficked primates, many perish during the journey while others die within the hands of authorities. To help curb illegal trafficking of animals, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) was established in 1973 and ratified in 1975. Under this treaty, the 183 participating countries work together to both regulate the international trade of wildlife and to prevent the overexploitation of wild populations. While only some primates are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), all primates are listed under CITES.