As a Twycross Zoo partner, Wildtracks recently participated in the Primate Society of Great Britain winter meeting, presenting on 'Primate Rehabilitation and Release in Belize - A Model for Successful Reintroductions'. Primate rehabilitation at Wildtracks is not just an animal welfare issue. The two species Wildtracks works with, the Yucatan black howler monkey (a regional endemic) and the Central American spider monkey are both globally endangered - the spider monkey is considered one of the 25 primates at highest risk of extinction in the world.
In being committed to accepting every monkey confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade, Wildtracks and the Belize Forest Department have been able to partner to significantly reduce the number of illegal primates in captivity to a handful a year, taking them through rehabilitation to release.
Reintroduction into protected forests is an essential strategy towards safeguarding primate populations in Belize. Rehabilitation is focused on ensuring each individual gains the knowledge and skills it will require for a successful release, and is integrated into a social group with others that grow and learn together through rehabilitation, forming strong bonds that last into the release stage.
We are very pleased to be able to share the presentation with you