Are monkeys about to be extinct?

Are monkeys about to be extinct?

Half the 262 species of monkeys in the world are threatened with extinction. Fifty-eight of the threatened species live in South and Central America, 46 in Asia and 26 in Africa. Of these, 24 monkeys are critically endangered, with an extremely high chance of soon becoming extinct in the wild.

Are monkeys all over the world?

Monkeys live all over the world and come in various shapes, sizes and colors. As one of our closest relatives, these mammals are very intelligent and have opposable thumbs, allowing them to use tools and play games. There are more than 260 different types of monkeys.

Are humans a threat to monkeys?

“Humans increasingly encroach primate habitats and exploit natural resources,” says Christian Roos, co-author of the study. Illegal hunting and the primate trade are other major threats, with up to 90% of species affected.

What is the biggest threat to monkeys?

The main threats are habitat destruction, particularly from the burning and clearing of tropical forests that also emits at least 20 percent of the global greenhouse gases causing climate change, and the hunting of primates for food and an illegal wildlife trade.

Are humans New World monkeys?

Old World monkeys all belong to one family, Cercopithecidae, which is related to apes and humans, and together they are classified as catarrhines (meaning “downward-nosed” in Latin). The New World monkeys are the platyrrhines (“flat-nosed”), a group comprising five families.

How many apes are left in the World 2021?

Chimpanzees are extinct in four of their 25 range countries (Gambia, Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin). Where they numbered perhaps 1 million at the turn of the 20th century, today it’s estimated there are 172,000-300,000 chimpanzees remaining in the wild.

Why are monkeys becoming extinct?

More than half the world’s primates, including apes, lemurs and monkeys, are facing extinction. The main threats are well-known which include habitat loss especially the clearing of tropical forests, and the hunting of primates for food and the illegal wildlife trade.