Primate Poaching

Throughout this blog, I have engaged with topics related to the current state of primates from a variety of perspectives. In this post, I will be addressing the important problem of primate poaching, which has been increasingly visible, from exotic animal trade to hunting practices. For example, can you imagine that between 1995-2002, over 99,000 primates were legally imported into the United States as pets or research animals(Save the Primates)? These animals were plucked from their natural habitat and flown half-way around the world for our purposes. Can we then imagine how much poaching (or illegal "taking/capturing") must be occurring across the world? So, let us explore some of the reasons behind why primates, our closest ancestor, may be poached. 

Conservation rangers and local people are shown in 2007 evacuating the bodies of four mountain gorillas killed in Virunga national park, eastern Congo. Photograph: Brent Stirton/Getty The.Guardian.co.uk

1. Bush meat - large populations of primates live near marginalized socio-economic areas in the Amazon and Sub-Saharan Africa. During all times, but especially times of economic stress (recession, war, drought), primates may be killed specifically for the purposes of providing food to local, human populations. An FAO report from 2004 claimed that Liberia's bush meat trade is valued at $42 million USD. 

2. Exotic animal trade - the size of the global exotic animal trade has been estimated to be $12 billion USD and growing. Primates are poached from all over the world, particularly smaller, more pet-friendly species from the Amazon, and sold to aspiring pet owners. Western Europe has seen a dramatic increase in demand over the last decade. National Geographic estimates that approximately 15,000 primates are living as pets in the United States, often with inexperienced owners and inappropriate, unnatural diets. 

This infant gorilla was taken to a conservation center after his parents were murdered by poachers 

3. Hunting - sadly, extreme hunting across Africa still exists and caters to wealthy tourists. Whether it is rhinoceros, elephant, or gorilla hunting, this activity is absolutely deplorable and should be controlled by local governments, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2009, Uganda made global headlines by re-introducing big game sport hunting "as a controlled activity" outside its conversation zones. Perhaps some pressure from the international community will convince all governments to make every effort to protect their wildlife, especially endangered primate species. 

4. Research and other - finally, zoos, other animal shows, and animal research facilities are constantly acquiring new primates from brokers. Often, these institutions do not care to perform due diligence on where the primate is coming from and in what manner they are sourced. Governments and trade commissions must enact strict regulations to understand the real origin of inbound primates. In related news, the government of India recently banned primate experimentation for training college and university students(Rights group lauds Indian's ban animal testing). Hopefully, these decisions can help to control primate poaching that has accelerated during the last few decades. 

If you would like to donate to Save The Primates please click HERE

Primates & HIV

One of the most stunning, controversial, medical and scientific developments of the last several decades has been the discovery and emergence of HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus. In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that the number of people living with HIV globally was 34 million (AIDS epidemic 2010). In the same year, AIDS (the disease caused by chronic infection with HIV) was responsible for approximately 1.8 million deaths. HIV has also been a scary development in the United States, as viral transmission shifts from a focus on homosexual individuals to heterosexuals of all races and ages. Biologists, anthropologists, and other researchers often disagree on the exact point of origin of HIV, and how it emerged in the human species. These academic questions are exacerbated by the media and conspiracy theorists with a number of creative explanations, many of which have now been discredited. In this blog, I will provide an overview of what actually occurred and address two popular but misguided theories. 

Viral Structure of HIV 1

First of all, there are two forms of HIV circulating in the human species, HIV-1 (common) and HIV-2 (only found in West Africa). Based on genetic analysis, these viruses are derived from a class of viruses called SIVs, or Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (simian aka Old World monkeys). Researchers believe that based on significant genetic similarities, SIVsm (from sooty mangabey monkeys) transformed into HIV-2, and SIVcpz (from chimpanzee monkeys) transformed into HIV-1. While the viral origin is no longer in doubt, exactly why the virus jumped and how it manifests itself differently in humans than primates is still under evaluation. Researchers do know that these SIVs often do not cause deadly disease in infected primates.

This entire body of evidence is contrary to some popular, misguided theories that seek to explain HIV and its financial and social devastation on the emerging world. Jakob Segal's (German university biologist) story is well known - that HIV was engineered by the US government in the 1970s and tested on prisoners before it was released. However, this theory was disproved as genetic analysis shows the virus existed as early as 1920. Another infamous theory comes from the development of the polio virus. This theory claims that the polio virus, developed in chimpanzee tissue, was contaminated with some SIV and introduced to the Congo in Africa in the 1950s - once again, the timing is too late as HIV had already made the jump to the human species.

Theories aside, much work is yet to be done to understand the specific moment or moments of transmission to our species. Genetic analysis can only take us so far, and then cultural anthropologists and historians must step in. Human interaction with nature, including bush meat and blood rituals, are perhaps the key to understanding a critical moment in the history of human disease.