In today’s post we continue with some news about our fieldwork, this month we are finishing our project about the distribution limits of ornate titi monkeys (Plecturocebus ornatus). In our last fieldtrip we finished to survey the eastern limits of this endemic primate with very few observations. Changes in soil and vegetation could be part of the reason why this species is not found in the most eastern part of this area, however another reason could be related with the high transformation of this region. Meta department had extensive areas dedicated to cattle ranching and agriculture. This department have crops of plantain, cacao, corn, rice and manioc, and fruits such as passion fruit, papaya, pineapple, guava and watermelon, as well as the extensive areas dedicated to palm oil plantations. This transformation had a high impact in the forest fragments persisting in these landscapes, with extensive areas cover only by palm oil plantations, some with living fences used by primates, but other areas without any structures that improves landscape connectivity.

Our observations during this project also highlighted the need for canopy bridges to help primates to cross high traffic roads. Some part of the main roads in Meta department had canopy bridges used by primate species from the area, however remote roads didn’t have any and it is evident that at least in some areas these structures are necessary. Use of living fences and fragments next to roads is common for all primate species present in the area and this proximity to roads increase their risk to car collisions. Data on the frequency of these collisions and species who are more prone to these accidents is scarce. We also observe groups of feral dogs close to roads and traveling towards forest fragments that also represent a threat to primate species.So, as it is common for me while I’m in the field, every fieldtrip leaves with more questions than answers and a feeling of more uncertainty about the future of the primate species living in fragmented landscapes. Hopefully we will be able to continue with this project for more years and as much as possible contribute to the survivorship of primate species in this area of Colombia.

If you want to support our activities, please visit https://fineartamerica.com/art/xyomara+carretero or get in contact with us at xcarretero@gmail.com if you want to collaborate, donate or volunteer in our activities. You can also support our activities by buying our ornate titi monkeys stuff dolls https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctm_sEORvk8/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== and our new journals in Amazon https://www.amazon.com/X-Carretero/dp/B0CWD1DBJM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?© Copyright Disclaimer. All pictures used on this web page are protected with copyrights to Xyomara Carretero-Pinzón. If you want to use any of these pictures, please leave a message on the website or contact xcarretero@gmail.com

In today’s post we talk about progress in our field projects and a small tribute to one of the landowners in our study area who sadly pass leaving us with great lessons about traditional practices in cattle ranching.

As most of you know from previous posts we continue with our sampling on distribution limits of ornate titi monkeys, Plecturocebus ornatus, with new observations in northern and southeastern limits of its distribution. We want to thank Primate Conservation Inc, for their support to make these samplings possible. This sampling also wouldn’t be possible without the help of local tourism guides and two of my field assistants, Felipe and Francisco. As usual for me this project had giving me more questions to ponder and even more motivation to continue doing fieldwork despite some challenges.

As I mentioned before, species distribution data is challenging to obtain due to logistics constrains, however local people is of great help and we should value more all data that they can provide us, even if that data is not always collected using traditional scientific methods. More news and advances on this project soon!!!

We also were able to visit our permanent forest fragments to count all primate’s groups that we had the privilege of look at every year. Some groups that we didn’t see in the past months were seen again and a special moment with Colombian squirrel monkeys (Saimiri albigena) and black-capped capuchins (Sapajus apella) crossing a living fence on trees above my head while I was siting remind me why I like to do what I do. So, I hope you had the opportunity to feel like me in your daily work…

While in the field, I was also informed of the passing away of one of the landowners with who I started this project, he was the landowner of the neighbor farm who first let me visit his forest to look for monkeys. In an informal conversation we had around 28 years ago, he told me how he buys his farm and how he left living fences and isolated trees in the middle of pastures, so cattle have a place to hide when the sun was too strong. He was the first one to make me look at living fences as connecting landscape structures that can help cattle as well as wildlife to coexist in transformed landscapes. His legacy of living fences as a traditional practice in cattle ranching farms is one, I will always remember and one of the main lessons I had learned over my years working in fragmented landscapes in the Orinoquia region of Colombia. Rest in peace Don Eleodoro and thank you…

If you want to support our activities, please visit https://fineartamerica.com/art/xyomara+carretero or get in contact with us at xcarretero@gmail.com if you want to collaborate, donate or volunteer in our activities. You can also support our activities by buying our ornate titi monkeys stuff dolls https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctm_sEORvk8/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== and our new journals in Amazon https://www.amazon.com/X-Carretero/dp/B0CWD1DBJM/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?© Copyright Disclaimer. All pictures used on this web page are protected with copyrights to Xyomara Carretero-Pinzón. Pictures in this post were taken by Francisco Gomez. If you want to use any of these pictures, please leave a message on the website or contact xcarretero@gmail.com