Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Newest monkey now most endangered

The large monkey known in Tanzania as the kipunji was discovered by science only three years ago. Now the Wildlife Conservation Society has determined there are not many more than 1,000 of the creatures, and their habitat is shrinking. The species lives in a range of less than 18 square kilometers, under siege from illegal logging and poaching. According to Dr. Tim Davenport, Tanzania Country Director for the Wildlife Conservation Society, "The kipunji is hanging on by the thinnest of threads. "We must do all we can to safeguard this extremely rare and little understood species while there is still time." The WCS is increasing its efforts to protect the animals' habitat.

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