An Assessment of Illegal Capuchin Monkey Trade in Bahia State, Brazil
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Neotropical Biology and Conservation 8(2):79-87, may-august 2013 © 2013 by Unisinos - doi: 10.4013/nbc.2013.82.03 An assessment of illegal capuchin monkey trade in Bahia State, Brazil Avaliação do comércio ilegal de macacos-prego na Bahia, Brasil Rafaela Almeida Abstract do Nascimento1 [email protected] Wildlife trade is illegal in Brazil. The issues associated with this problem are always difficult to resolve. Based on questionnaires, public and private reports, interviews and personal Alexandre Schiavetti1,2 visits, the quantity and characteristics of captive capuchin monkeys (genus Sapajus) in the [email protected] state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil are described. Questionnaires were sent to public and private institutions throughout the state to assess the captive groups of Sapajus spp. and identify possible routes of illegal traffic. Results showed a total of 105 captive capuchins. Romari Alejandra At least 15 individuals were identified as a byproduct of illegal trade. Six species were Martinez Montaño1, 3* identified, three of them native of Bahia. Our study confirms the presence of critical routes [email protected] for animal trafficking. Major points of illegal sales are the street markets in seven cities. Welfare, biological and sanitary conditions of captive capuchin monkeys need serious revi- sion and improvements throughout the State. A list of management suggestions to captive Sapajus groups in Bahia, extensive to captive capuchins in all Brazil, is presented. Key words: public policy, wildlife traffic, illegal routes, capuchin monkeys. Resumo O tráfico de espécies silvestres é uma atividade ilegal no Brasil. Todavia, os diversos as- pectos relacionados com essa prática são difíceis de resolver. Neste trabalho, descreve- mos o tráfico de primatas na Bahia, com base em entrevistas, relatórios públicos, privados e visitas técnicas. O foco específico deste trabalho é o macaco-prego, gênero Sapajus. Foram enviados questionários pelo correio a diversos atores envolvidos na manutenção de indivíduos cativos deste gênero para identificar a origem desses indivíduos e assim traçar as possíveis rotas do tráfico ilegal no Estado. Foram registrados 105 macacos- prego em cativeiro, sendo pelo menos 15 identificados como produto do tráfico ilegal. Seis espécies foram confirmadas, sendo que apenas três estão reportadas para a Bahia. Essa informação confirma o tráfico de espécies através do Estado. A pesquisa mostra locais críticos para o comércio ilegal de primatas, em feiras livres de sete cidades baianas. Sugere-se que as condições sanitárias, biológicas e de bem estar das populações cativas de macacos-prego no Estado sejam revisadas e melhoradas. Apresenta-se uma lista de sugestões para o manejo dos grupos cativos de Sapajus na Bahia, extensíveis para ou- 1 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zoologia, tros grupos deste gênero no país. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz. Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna Km 16, Salobrinho, 45562-000, Ilhéus, BA, Brasil. Palavras-chave: políticas públicas, tráfico ilegal, rotas do tráfico, macaco-prego. 2 Departamento de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna Km 16, Salobrinho, 45562-000, Ilhéus, BA, Brasil. 3 Departamento de Filosofia e Ciências Sociais. Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz. Rodovia Ilhéus-Itabuna Km 16, Salobrinho, 45562-000, Ilhéus, BA, Brasil. Rafaela Almeida do Nascimento, Alexandre Schiavetti, Romari Alejandra Martinez Montaño Introduction Primates are amongst the most com- research) and some more traditional, monly commercialized wild mammals such as personal visits to assess taxo- Wildlife trade is a historically com- in the world (Fitzgerald, 1989; Red- nomical traits of the captive capuchin plex and difficult issue considering mond, 2005; Mittermeier et al., 2009). monkeys. This information will serve the need of involvement within almost They can be found as pets, used in tra- to assess the origin of these specimens all sectors of society. Several govern- ditional medicine and for biomedical and identify possible traffic routes. ments and organizations have strug- research (RENCTAS, 2001). The ac- These considerations are relevant gled to reduce or regulate wildlife tive traffic of primates mainly involves because three of the most threatened trade. There is a clear understanding live individuals, but can also include primates in the northeastern Atlantic that national laws must be supported body parts or meat (Mittermeier et Forest are found in Bahia or along by international policies to improve al., 2009). In recent years, primate its boundaries: the yellow-breasted the effectiveness of enforcement and trade included as many as 40,000 capuchin monkey Sapajus xanthoster- control measures (Traffic North Amer- animals/year (Giovanini, 2006). The nos (Wied-Neuwied, 1826), the crest- ica, 2009). To control this trade, the main source of these animals is Asia ed capuchin Sapajus robustus (Kuhl, Convention on International Trade and Africa, but they are also obtained 1820) and the Marcgrave’s capuchin of Endangered Species of Wild Flora from Latin America, particularly from Sapajus flavius (Schreber, 1774) (Ry- and Fauna (CITES) exists since 1976. Peru, Colombia and Brazil (Fitzger- lands et al., 2005). We aim not only to CITES has currently been ratified by ald, 1989; Maldonado et al., 2009). support conservation actions that will 175 countries or states (Nijman et al., In nations such as Great Britain, mon- benefit these and other primates but 2011). International wildlife trade is keys most commonly kept as pets are also to suggest preventive measures to seen as one of the leading threats to New World Primates: Saimiri sp., be used against wildlife traffic in Ba- biodiversity conservation (Sutherland Callithrix sp., Saguinus sp. and Ce- hia and in other Brazilian states. et al., 2009). bus sp. (Redmond, 2005). The slow Brazil’s primate biodiversity is the but continuous growth of the number Material and methods second highest in the world (Mitter- of robust capuchin monkeys (Sapajus meier et al., 2009). Wildlife trade is il- sp.) in captivity is a result of appre- The current and historic capuchin legal in Brazil, except when originated hensions of illegally traded animals monkey traffic within Bahia was as- from licensed breeders (Law 5197/67, and donations of former pets (Kierulff sessed by using different sources: bib- Brasil, 1967). The government is re- et al., 2005). liographic and documental informa- sponsible for law enforcement through Few years ago, capuchin monkeys tion, online searches, questionnaires the Brazilian Environmental Agency were the most common medium-sized and personal inspections. Documents (IBAMA), as well as through federal primate found in captivity in Brazil (hearings, statements and final re- organs such as the Forestry Police and (Ellis and Ellis, 1988), and this situ- ports) from the Congressional In- the Public Ministry, regional offices ation has not changed (Kierulff et al., vestigative Commission (CPITRAFI, (i.e., each State Environmental Office) 2005). As of 2007, 28.1% of the cap- 2003), formed to investigate illegal or even Municipal Environmental Of- tive primates in CETAS all over Brazil wildlife traffic in Brazil; the Brazilian fices (if available). Federal environ- belonged to several species of Sapajus Environmental Institute (IBAMA); mental agencies and public zoos are (Levacov et al., 2007). Until recently, and the National Network for Combat the institutions that receive most ani- all capuchins belonged to one genus of Wild Animal Traffic (RENCTAS) mals rescued from wildlife traffic or il- (Cebus Erxleben 1777). After Lynch- were used to obtain basic informa- legal trade (Vidolin et al., 2004). They Alfaro et al. (2012) there has been a tion for comparison with present represent the final destination of ap- widespread acceptance of the division conditions. Additional information proximately 60% of all wildlife (exotic of capuchins in two genera, with the on capuchin monkeys with emphasis or native) apprehended in the country tufted capuchins, popularly known as on their management and traffic was (Giovanini, 2006). In the case of native robust capuchins, belonging to the ge- gathered through bibliographic and fauna, the main reason to keep animals nus Sapajus Kerr 1792. online resources. The main search en- in captivity is the lack of specific re- Our study aims to gather information gines (such as PubMed, Scielo, Google introduction programs and release ar- on the captive groups of Sapajus in Academic, Scopus and others) were eas for most species (PMA-SP, 2006). the state of Bahia, northeastern Bra- accessed by using the keywords “Wild- Other considerations may be ecologi- zil. To attain this goal, we have used life traffic and Brazil.” This informa- cal (e.g., introduction of alien species), a multidisciplinary approach, using tion was then filtered to extract any logistical, financial or sanitary - includ- different types of research method- available data on Cebus species; data ing the transmission of diseases to wild ologies, some more typical of the so- was analyzed qualitatively, focusing populations (IUCN, 2000). cial sciences (interviews, documental on mentions of capuchin traffic in 80 Volume 8 number 2 may - august 2013 An assessment of illegal capuchin monkey trade in Bahia State, Brazil Bahia and all possible information of tact with other species, natural light primates. Information on traffic routes primate trade in Brazil. The informa- and substrate of the enclosure,