First images of elusive new primate
14th January 2012
Photographs of the recently discovered Burmese snub-nosed monkey have shed light on the elusive species...
Researchers have captured the first images of the newly discovered Burmese snub-nosed monkey in northern Burma. A joint team from Fauna & Flora International (FFI), Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Association (BANCA) and People Resources and Conservation Foundation (PRCF) announced the discovery on Wednesday in Yangon, Burma.
The exclusive images were captured by cameras placed in the forested mountain of Kachin state, on the border of China. The species were first described scientifically in 2012, from a dead specimen collected from a local hunter, but no scientist has seen a live individual as of yet.
“These images are the first record of the animal in its natural habitat,” said Ngwe Lwin, the Burmese national who first recognised the monkey as a possible new species. “It is great to finally have photographs because they show us something about how and where it actually lives,” he added.
Although this species has only recently been discovered, it is already threatened by habitat loss and hunting. However, of the Burma snub-nosed monkeys caught on camera several females were seen carrying young, giving hope to a new generation of these rare primates.
The discovery team is already working with the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forest (MOECAF), local authorities and communities to help safeguard the future of the species.
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