World news – UK – Scientists have discovered new types of leaf-eating monkeys in the forests of Myanmar

A new species of leaf-eating monkey has been discovered deep in the forests of Myanmar, but there are already fears that it is on the verge of extinction

The Popa Langur is a member of a group of monkeys known as the colobin primates, and they live exclusively in Myanmar named after the country’s sacred Mount Popa, a dormant volcano that has now become a national park. They live in groups in trees, and like other colobians they eat mostly fruit and leafy plants

Scientists from the German Primate Center and Animals & Flora International confirmed that the Popa langur was a new species of monkey by viewing them in the wild and studying museum specimens dating back 100 years to compare their DNA

But its population is vulnerable, with only 200-250 monkeys left in the wild, and the research team recommends immediately classifying them as « endangered. » They warned that the largest number of monkeys is about 100 monkeys living in Mount Popa Park, but hunting Illegal and deforestation are still widespread even in the protected area

Roberto Portella Migiz of the Natural History Museum, who provided museum specimens from Bubba Langur for study, said he hoped the discovery would prompt Myanmar to do more to save the monkeys. “It reinforces the need for more conservation efforts in that particular area to prevent the removal of Forestry, logging and hunting, « he told me, » We should be optimistic « 

“There is an urgent need for field surveys and additional protection measures To save the langurs from extinction, ”added Nguy Lewin, a primate scientist with Flora and Fauna International’s Myanmar Program.

Species, colobins, gray langurs, monkeys, primates, extinction, Myanmar (Burma), Lotung