1. INTRODUCTION
Of the nine species of Red colobus monkeys occurring in African continent (Iringa red colobus, Zanzibar red colobus, Tana River red colobus, Tsuapa red colobus, Central Africa red colobus, Pennnant?s red colobus, Preuss?s red colobus and Western red colobus), the Zanzibar red colobus monkey is an endemic primate species natural occurring in Zanzibar numbering some 2,400 individuals with none in captivity.
The Zanzibar Red Colobus monkeys are protected under Zanzibar Laws. They are listed in class A (African Convention); appendix 1 (CITES), Highly Endangered (IUCN). Red colobus monkeys are selective feeders on many plant types and parts in a single day; ranging from young leaves, flowers fruits, bark, seed and sometime wood charcoal. Red Colobus Monkeys live in large family troops, numbering up to 100 animals per troop. They sleep and rest in trees and come down to feed. They are extremely vulnerable to hunting as they are noisy, conspicuous and relatively slow.
The Jozani Forest feeding areas (Shamba area) are the strongest hold having at least half of the Zanzibar wide colobus monkey?s populations (i.e. 1,400 Red monkeys survive in the Jozani Park area). These monkeys are 100% pull factor for all tourist/visitors to the park and thus contribute much in generating money to the park that used to run park itself and dividends to community stakeholder for integrated conservation and socio-development activities. However, these feeding areas are roaming sites are seem to be over populated, food becomes scarce and the risk of monkeys to be humiliated increases.
This proposal intends to seek grant that will allow planting more food species in wide areas of Unguja ukuu forest corridor, Jozani itself and open areas of Kibele forest. Indigenous food species planting in these potential areas shall allow free and safer feeding, breeding (nursing of young monkeys) and camouflaging.
2. THE RED COLOBUS MONKEY-PILIOCOLOBUS KIRKII
Red colobus occur in numerous population and species, some of which show much variation at the individual level while others are more uniform.
They have exceptionally small heads on long?backed, pot- bellied bodies. All tend to be some combination of red, white, brown and grey, all have black or dark face, legs are slightly longer than thumb less arms, some with pinkish lips and nose. Young of males have peri-anal swelling which resembles the genital swelling of females. Red Colobus Monkeys prefer low land forest; some occur in montane areas up to 1,500metres. Its distribution governed by climatic events, vegetation pattern and anthropogenic factors such as hunting and cultivation. Red colobus monkeys are selective feeders on many plant types and parts in a single day; ranging from young leaves, flowers fruits, bark, seed and sometime wood charcoal.
Red Colobus Monkeys live in large family troops, numbering up to 100 animals per troop. They are territorial 25-250 hectares. Territory is vigorously defended by permanent Alfa-males against any intruders, while all troop members advertize ownership by calling with a variety of backs and chirps. They sleep and rest in trees and come down to feed. Red Colobus Monkeys are extremely vulnerable to hunting as they are noisy, conspicuous and relatively slow.
2.1 Roaming site for Red Colobus Monkeys
The Jozani Forest feeding areas (Shamba area) are the strongest hold having at least half of the Zanzibar wide colobus monkey?s populations (i.e. 1,400 Red monkeys survive in the Jozani Park area). These monkeys are 100% pull factor for all tourist/visitors to the park and thus contribute much in generating money to the park that used to run park itself and dividends to community stakeholder for integrated conservation and socio-development activities.
The park provide exclusive good habitat where most monkeys do play. The public road dissecting the monkeys? habitat in the park, of which careless and speeding vehicles sometimes used to knock a crossing monkey with or without baby and affiliate body injuries and sometime cause monkeys death. Some time babies left motherless and helpless (picture bellows). The public road stretch of 600m builds with road bumps as drivers check point to reduce vehicle speed. Subsequently, number of road kills reduced from 20 animals down (1990s) to hardly two to none per month at present (2020).
2.2 Protection Legal Status
The Zanzibar Red Colobus monkey is normally protected under Zanzibar Laws-managed by the department of Forest and Non Renewable Natural Resources, Zanzibar. It is given highest protection status and well secured in term of human-animal conflicts and so highly respected. The Zanzibar Red colobus monkeys are listed in class A (African Convention); appendix 1 (CITES), Highly Endangered (IUCN).