Monkeys such as the white-fronted capuchin and red howler are among the first lines of defence when devastating diseases enter the country.
In early 2020, hunters found the bodies of several red howler monkeys in the forests of south Trinidad and veterinarians later determined they died from yellow fever.
They also are among the first to be infected by dengue and malaria and can guide health authorities to take proactive measures to stop the spread of the diseases.
Game wardens, nature tour operators and wildlife conservations all welcomed the decision of the government to categorise the Trinidad Capuchin monkey and the Trinidad Howler monkey as environmentally sensitive species.
The Environmental Management Authority began receiving comments on the proposed change law on January 10 and will close off on February 18.
Conservationist Ricardo Meade of the El Socorro Centre for Wildlife Conservation said the decision to categorise the white-fronted capuchin and the red howler monkeys, both native species to TT, was “long overdue.”
He said it was difficult to determine the population of the two species as there is “poor data collection” to give baseline numbers to compare.
Meade said the species were under threat mainly by the loss of forests for development and now the invasion of illegally smuggled monkeys which are often released in the wild and are multiplying at alarming rates.
[caption id="attachment_935901" align="alignnone" width="731"] A baby red howler monkey hangs out with its mother in a local forest. - Photo courtesy Rose-Anne Reyes.[/caption]
He said three other types of capuchin monkeys – tufted, black cap and wedge cap – which are found in South America are pushing out the white-fronted capuchin for territory and posing a major problem, particularly in the Chaguaramas district.
Homeowners in Glencoe and Goodwood Park have reported sightings of the tufted capuchin which is more aggressive. Meade said it may be necessary to come up with “a programme of wildlife management” to deal with the population growth of the invasive species before it is too late. He said squirrel and spider monkeys, also from South America, are also being smuggled into the country.
He said the native species of monkey are important to TT’s eco-tourism and areas in Chatham where the red howler was frequently seen and heard are now silent as forests are cleared for houses and other development.
Conservator of Forests and Chief Game Warden Denny Dipchandsingh said the forestry division had limited data on the population of howler monkeys over the last decade.
He said illegal hunting and people capturing the monkey to keep as pets have contributed to their decline.
“The red howler population is also an indicator species for any malaria, dengue and yellow fever outbreak making them an important species to protect,” he said.
According to a 2021 report from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, there are few
