Red colobus (Piliocolobus) conservation action plan 2021-2026

Abstract

Ranging from forests in Senegal to the Zanzibar Archipelago, red colobus monkeys (Piliocolobus spp.) are the most threatened group of African monkeys. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM in 2020, every form of red colobus monkey is threatened with extinction, and 14 of the 18 taxa (>75%) are listed as Critically Endangered or Endangered. Despite their conservation status, only a few populations have been studied in any detail and the general public is largely unaware of these monkeys and their plight. Following over two decades of calls to prioritise red colobus conservation efforts, this publication finally brings together the knowledge of experts on these monkeys and African wildlife conservation to identify the populations in most urgent need of conservation and to develop priority conservation actions for each taxon and across the red colobus’ geographic range.