Threatened mammals of the Cordillera de Colán, Peru

Abstract

During recent surveys in the Cordillera de Coldn, a semi-isolated mountain range in northern Peru, observations were made and information collected on three species of mammals considered globally threatened with extinction – yellow-tailed woolly monkeyLagothrix flavicauda,Andean night monkeyAotus miconaxand spectacled bearTremarctos ornatus.The yellow-tailed woolly monkey has an extremely restricted range, in which extensive deforestation is occurring, and the species is also heavily hunted. The urgent establishment of an effectively protected area in the Cordillera de Colán is strongly recommended in order to help secure the future for this poorly known primate and other mammal and bird species of conservation importance.