Temminck's Red Colobus (Procolobus badius temminckii)
Image taken in Abuko Forest in The Gambia.
This large arboreal leaf-eating primate is a subspecies of Western Red Colobus. Of the three Western Red Colobus subspecies this and the nominate subspecies are now classified as endangered (IUCN 3.1) whilst the third -Miss Waldron's Red Colobus is critically endangered and may now be extinct.
Western Red Colobus are often hunted by Chimpanzees and by Humans (bush-meat). In 1994 many chimps were fatally infected with the deadly Ebola virus contracted from their Western Red Colobus prey and given that chimps and humans share over 96% of their DNA there is a clear risk to humans.
There has been a huge explosion in the bushmeat trade in recent years
-which includes small antelope and various primates including both the
African Great Apes. Independent of the ecological calamity that this
is creating there is a real threat that wild non-human primate-based
viral diseases will jump the species barrier resulting in new
life-threatening human diseases.
Indeed many researchers now believe that the inter-species transfer of
a Simian immunodeficiency retrovirus from infected monkeys to humans
via bushmeat followed by the subsequent mutation of the virus, is
probably what created the Human Immunodeficiency Virus -the cause of
AIDS, which is now killing so many poor people in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Framed by a friend.
Al JC, 1Snowboarder, Tall Bob, and 38 other people added this photo to their favorites.
View 20 more comments
Inzievar 24 months ago | reply
Very informative but who could resist that wee face.
cjc4454 24 months ago | reply
Thanks for posting it in our group, and congratulations on your other honors :)
hbp_pix 24 months ago | reply
biancapreusker 24 months ago | reply
What leaves??? :-)
jimmyedmonds 24 months ago | reply
This is an OUTSTANDING MAMMAL photograph !!!
Outstanding Mammal Photography
Marcel vn Duinhoven 23 months ago | reply
Stunning shot, love the eyes and details.
gustaf wallen 22 months ago | reply
Nothing can be more enchanting than the wild untouched and uncorrupted beauty .
bayucca (busy) 22 months ago | reply
Lovely!
One more shot Rog 20 months ago | reply
Another great shot!
Bhada :) 20 months ago | reply
Great shot!!
marcellucray 19 months ago | reply
lightning shot.............................
renrut01 19 months ago | reply
Brilliant!
Mike_t_by_the_sea 18 months ago | reply
you sure put that lens to work
emylily 18 months ago | reply
OOOHH!! Soo cute! love it
cyanocorax 15 months ago | reply
We'd love to be able to show this and any other wildlife photos you have on the Encyclopedia of Life (www.eol.org). Thanks for using CC licenses. We'll help with tagging!
EncyclopediaOfLife 15 months ago | reply
Encyclopedia of Life curator Robert Hole, Jr has trusted your image on the EOL site
Mangini Adalberto & Laura 5 months ago | reply
wonderful!
coyrooster 5 months ago | reply
Your photograph got my attention some weeks ago but it wasn't until today, seeing it featured as the banner image for your Gambian Wildlife set, that I read your very informative caption. Thank you for that ... and for this marvelous portrait.
coyrooster 3 months ago | reply
Ah so, we meet again and such a pleasure it is. (The link below goes to the page where your picture appears.)
Seen at BORN to be WILD
Juan © 3 months ago | reply
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