Draft Assessment Report and Application to amend the List of Specimens taken to be Suitable for Live Import (Live Import List)
Introduction
This Report and Application concerns specimens of the White-throated Capuchin monkey Cebus capucinus. It seeks to have this species listed on the Live Import List for the specific commercial purpose of use in film. It proposes the strict condition that any specimens to be imported should have no potential to reproduce with each other. It further proposes that any imported specimens should be re-exported following the fulfilment of the purposes for which they were imported.
This Report and Application therefore presents a case for the listing of this species based on the premise that it will not, indeed cannot, represent any risk of establishment of a wild population in the Australian environment, if listed strictly for the commercial purpose described.
Terms of Reference
1. Taxonomy of the species.
Family: Cebidae
Genus: Cebus
Species: Cebus capucinus (Linnaeus) White-headed, White-faced or White-throated capuchin.
Subspecies: Some authorities recognise 3 subspecies, C.c. capucinus, C.c imitator, C.c. limitaneus1.
This application concerns animals not identified to subspecies level. The species is not a genetically modified organism.
2. Status of the species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The status of Cebus capucinus is listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species2 as “Least Concern”. The species is regarded as an important pollinator and see disperser in primary and advanced secondary forests of central America and north western South America.11
The species is listed on Appendix II of CITES.3 There are no specific restrictions on the movement of this species under CITES. Capucins are probably the most common genus of monkeys kept as pets in Europe and the Americas. A number of States in the USA allow the keeping of Capucins without licenses while other States ban or license the keeping of monkeys as pets4. Capucins are reportedly the most common medium-sized primates in captivity in Brazil5.
The United States prohibited the importation of primates as pets in 1975.6
This application concerns specific individual specimens kept under license in the State of California, USA and used for a specific and limited commercial purpose of appearance as behaviourally conditioned animals in film.
3. Ecology of the species.
• lifespan of the species
The maximum recorded lifespan of Cebus capcinus in captivity is 54 years7. Normal lifespan in the wild is likely to be considerably less than this.
• size and weight range
Adults attain a body length between 335 and 453mm. The tail may be up to 551mm in length. Animals may weigh up to 3.9kg with males approximately 27% larger than females.
The species has mostly black fur, with white to yellow fur on the neck, throat, chest, shoulders, and upper arms. The face is pink or a white-cream color and may have identifying marks such as dark brows or dark fur patches. There is a distinctive area of black fur on the crown of the head. The tail is prehensile and often held coiled.8 9 10
• the natural geographic range
The species is native to forests of Central America and between the Andes mountains and Pacific ocean in Columbia in north-western South America. Its confirmed range historically included much of Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama. It appears to have been eradicated from much of Honduras.10
• habitat
Cebus capucinus occurs in a variety of forest types including evergreen and deciduous, dry and moist, mangrove and montane forest. It shows a preference for primary or advanced secondary forest and can adapt to forest fragmentation.8
• diet, including potential to feed on agricultural plants
Capuchins are omnivorous, primarily feeding of fruit and insects. Cebus capucinus forages at all levels from the ground to upper canopy. To find food, bark may be stripped, branches broken, rocks moved and tools used - stones as hammers and anvils to crack hard fruits. Fruits eaten include figs (Moraceae), mangos (Anarcardiaceae) and bean-like fruits (Leguminoseae). Generally only ripe fruit is taken, pulp and flesh eaten and seeds and husks discarded.11 12 A variety of invertebrate food is taken including beetle larvae, butterfly and moth caterpillars, ant and wasp larvae and adults. Vertebrate prey includes birds, eggs, frogs, lizards. Different troops can show significant differences in diet.13
The following information is from a Pest Risk Assessment for the Black-tufteded Capuchin Cebus apella, conducted in March 2011 by the Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries30:
Capuchins are considered a pest in tropical conifer plantation forestry. In Brazil the black-tufted capuchin feeds on the bark of the introduced species Pinus taeda and P. elliottii. Feeding often ring barks and kills the upper crowns of pines. Similar damage has been observed in plantations of the Brazilian conifer, Araucaria angustifolia (FAO, 200714)
Capuchins will feed on agricultural crops – including orchard fruits, sugar cane, maize and cassava – particularly where their habitat has been fragmented or where natural fruit sources are low (Rocha et al. 200715; de Freitas et al. 200816)
• social behaviour and groupings
Groups (troops) of up to 40 (mean 16, range 4-40) Male : Female ratio average 0.71 (range 0.54-0.88) 12
Females spend entire lives with female kin.
Males migrate, multiple times, to new social groups between ages 20 months and 11 years, often with male kin.17 18
Alpha males in groups generally sire offspring of unrelated females but not their own daughters. Allied but subordinate males usually sire offspring of the alpha male’s daughters. The result is a higher degree of paternal half siblings and full siblings than is usual in primate species.19
Females seek company of matrilineally related female kin. There is a dominance hierarchy amongst females but position is not inherited and dominance is thus not predictable. Generally males are dominant to females.20
Males cooperate in coalitions against other males and predators. Emigration of males to other groups typically takes place every 4 years so most males need to be prepared to defend their group at any time.21
Incoming males displace an existing groups alpha male and kill infants despite female defence, in order to induce ovulation. 22
• territorial and aggressive behaviours
Apart from human predation, the most common cause of death for males is aggression from other males.23
Home ranges for troops cover between 32 and 86 hectares.9 Interspecific aggression seems to occur regardless of where troops meet and does not seem to be specifically territorial. Home ranges overlap extensively. Thus the species is not, strictly speaking “territorial”.24
Males are typically the primary participants in intergroup aggression.25
• natural predators Natural predators of capuchin monkeys include large birds of prey, jaguar, pumas, jaguarundis, coyotes, tayras, snakes and crocodiles.11
• characteristics that may cause harm to humans and other species.
Capuchin monkeys do not seriously threaten human beings. They are capable of attacking and can inflict serious injuries by biting with sharp teeth. The following information is from a Pest Risk Assessment for the Black-tufted Capuchin conducted in March 2011 by the Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries30:
Capuchins have the capacity to transmit a number of diseases to humans. An analysis of potential zoonotic disease transmission as a result of the wildlife trade in the United States concluded that Cebus species posed a known risk for three significant diseases: Cercopithecine herpesvirus-1 (herpes B), Yellow fever virus, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (Pavlin et al. 200926). An additional four significant diseases were considered to be risk zoonoses based on the fact that these diseases occur within the Cebidae family: Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Rabies viruses, Monkeypox virus, Francisella tularensis (Pavlin et al. 2009).
Infection with herpes B virus is extremely rare in humans; however, when it does occur, the infection can result in severe neurologic impairment or fatal encephalomyelitis if the patient is not treated soon after exposure (Pavlin et al. 2009).
In addition to herpes B, capuchin monkeys have recently been shown to be susceptible to leptospirosis (Szonyi et al. 201027). Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease, capable of causing meningitis, liver and renal failure in humans if not treated. It is spread by contact with infected body fluids, or water containing infected body fluids. It is considered rare in monkeys, but has caused significant mortality in a captive population where rodent infestation was the confirmed cause of the outbreak (Szonyi et al. 2010). Although the extent of Leptospira transmission between humans and monkeys is unknown there is concern that improper husbandry of non-human primates could create new reservoirs and transmission routes for Leptospira threatening conservation efforts and public health (Szonyi et al. 2010).
4. Reproductive biology of the species
Sexual maturity is reached at about 3 years of age.
Females give birth for the first time at 7 years of age.
Females give birth every 2 years (26months). Usually a single infant is born but twins occur occasionally. The infant leaves the mother to spend time with other members of the social group from the 4th week of life.12
Weaning in the wild takes place around 16.5 months and in captivity around 13.7 months.12
- if the species has hybridised with other species (both in the wild and in captivity) or has the potential to hybridise with any other species.
The species has the potential to hybridise with other species of the same genus.28
5. Feral populations.
No Capuchin species is listed on the Global Invasive Species Database.29
6. Environmental risk assessments.
A relevant Pest Risk Assessment is that undertaken by the Tasmanian Government Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Resource and Conservation Division in 201130 (copy attached). This study considered the potential impact of the Black-tufted capuchin Cebus apella on the fauna and agriculture of Tasmania and assigned a threat category of Moderate. Cebus capucinus is biologically similar to Cebus apella in ecology and behaviour.12
In Australia there are currently 2 species of Capuchins. There 11 specimens of the White-fronted Capuchin Cebus albifrons in 2 zoological collections, and there are 99 specimens of the Black-fronted Capuchin Cebus apella in 9 zoological collections.31 Capuchin monkeys are thus firmly established in captivity in Australia, in Queensland, Victoria, Northern Territory, South Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania.
7. Likelihood that the species could establish a breeding population in the Australian environment
In Risk assessment models for the establishment of exotic vertebrates in Australia and New Zealand 30 Mary Bomford lists four key factors that are correlated with establishment success. These are propagule pressure, climate match, history of establishment elsewhere and taxonomic group.
Considering these factors in turn for Cebus capucinus it is clear that the possibility of the release of large numbers of animals at different times (propagule pressure) is non existent if importation is regulated as proposed; the Climate Match data calculated for Cebus apella30 does indicate correspondence in northern Australia; there is no history of establishment of the species elsewhere; and regarding the taxonomic group, there is no history of any Cebus species establishing populations outside of its natural range. Of the Family Cebidae, one species, Saimiri sciureurs Squirrel Monkey is reported as introduced to Florida, outside of its natural range.
Under the proposed Conditions for the importation of the species (see below) there is no possibility that the importation of the species could lead to any increased risk of the establishment of a breeding population of capuchin monkeys in the Australian environment.
The importation of selected specimens of Cebus capucinus for the specific purpose of filming and re- export presents no risk of hysbridisation with other Cebus monkeys already in Australia. Any existing risk of the establishment of a capuchin monkey species incurred by the presence, currently of 2 species, C. apella and C. albifrons cannot increase if the importation of C. capucinus is restricted as proposed to selected non-breeding individuals for the purposes of filming.
At no time during their presence in Australia should the specimens of Cebus capucinus have any contact with any other monkeys of any species.
8. Assessment of the potential impact of the species should it establish feral population/s in Australia.
The activity for which the importation of the species is sought, and the conditions that can be applied to its listing on the Live Importation List, will eliminate any possibility of establishment and any risk of serious consequences to the Australian economy, the environment, persons or property.
9. Conditions or restrictions that could be applied to the import of the species to reduce any potential for negative environmental impacts.
It is proposed that strict conditions be applied to the importation of Cebus capucinus.
• Specimens should be imported only for the purpose of filming.
• Specimens imported should not be capable of breeding with each other. If both sexes are imported, at least one sex should be sterile.
• Specimens should be re-exported on fulfilment of the purposes for which they were imported.
10. Summary of the types of activities that the specimen may be used for if imported into Australia.
It is not proposed to import this species for any breeding purposes. The animals proposed for importation cannot be bred and will be re-exported. The male to be imported is sterile. A condition of importation should be that no breeding potential is imported.
Cebus capucinus has been chosen for appearance in a moving picture. Two highly trained specimens, a sterile male and a female, have appeared in previous movies in the series “Pirates of the Caribbean”. It is proposed they appear in next film in the series.
The species has been chosen for use in filming because of its intelligence, tractability and geographical range bordering the Carribean.
Although the species is present in the pet trade in the USA there is no trade in Australia and no prospect of trade.
Details of animals to be imported:
Male, White-throated Capuchin, Cebus capucinus, 19 years old Microchip# 071374857
Female, White-throated Capuchin, Cebus capucinus, 20 years old
Microchip # 072530349
The animals will be taken from their approved facilities to studios located on the same premises for the purposes of filming. They will also be taken to Port Douglas in Queensland, early in July 2015, where they will be temporarily housed and taken to a location for the purposes of filming.
The animals are freely handled by their trainers and restrained by leashes when outside of their designated living quarters for the purposes of training and filming.
The animals are regarded as very valuable, carefully conditioned individuals and are accompanied and/or under close observation for 24 hours each day.
11. Guidelines on the way in which the species should be kept, transported and disposed of in accordance with the types of activity that the species may be used for if imported into Australia.
The animals will be transported to Australia by air in individual crates that meet IATA specifications, on or about March 9, 2015. They will be transported by road to purpose built facilities in the grounds of Village -Roadshow Studios, Gold Coast, Queensland, that have been approved by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture for the purposes of post-arrival quarantine isolation. Here they will be used for filming. They will also be taken to Port Douglas in Queensland, early in July 2015, where they will be temporarily housed and taken to a location for the purposes of filming.
The facilities for the animals will have been assessed and approved under the Application to Import Wildlife submitted to the Australian Government Department of the Environment.
The facilities will also be approved by Biosecurity Queensland, a branch of the Queensland Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forests.
The animals will be held in secure mesh and steel enclosures within a fenced compound. They will be transported in their crates, by air, to Port Douglas, Queensland and held in approved facilities. They will be taken and used in a filmed sequence on a film set to be identified, after which they will be returned to their secure facilities before being returned to the Village-Roadshow Studios, Gold Coast.
On completion of filming in July 2015 the animals will be returned to the USA on or about July 4, 2015.
At all time the animals will be supervised by suitably trained and experienced staff.
12. Commonwealth, state and territory legislative controls on the species.
The species is a Primate. The Australian Department of Agriculture has published Import health Conditions for Primates from overseas. As an exotic species not currently in the State, the species is, by default, a Declared Category 1 Pest in Queensland but an application has been submitted to the Queensland Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, to have the species listed on Schedule 3 Part 4 of Section 8G of the Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Regulation 2003 of the Act of the same name, 2002. This listing will permit the movement of the species into Queensland for the purposes of filming under “Permit to keep a declared pest animal for film”.
An “Exhibit Notice” application has also been submitted to Biosecurity Queensland in the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry.
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