Main Threats and Ecology of the Tonkin Snub Nosed Monkey Species

Conservation Assignment Part 2
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Conservation Assignment Part 2
Main Threats and Ecology of the TSNM Species
The Tonkin snub-nosed monkey (TSNM) faces a number of threats, making it one of the critically threatened species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) indicates that the various threats to the TSNM species have left about one hundred mature TSNM monkeys, which is a worrying trend (Baillie & Butcher, 2012). The species’ habitat has been the main factor in the occurrence of the human population, deforestation, and poaching threats. The increased human population in the Northern parts of Vietnam has been the main influence threat since the TSNM species has become prone to human attacks. In fact, the increased human population has extensively led to increased deforestation of bamboo and broadleaf forests, which creates an increased concern for the ability of humans to peacefully coexist with the species. Poaching has been on the rise due to the increased demand for wild meat in the Asian markets, where since the 1990s, the TSNM species has been in great danger of trapping as the common poaching method used.
The ecological features of the TSNM species have been a major contributing factor to the increase in the threats it faces. The monkey has unique features such as pink lips and nose and blue colored spots around their eyes, and the fact that females are known to take care of their young ones more carefully has seen an increase in tourists in Northern Vietnam. The increase in tourists has exposed the species to more people since the human population settles near the species’ habitat, thus edging out the monkeys. The fact that the species feeds on bamboo leaves is a behavioral ecological factor that has made the monkeys prone to being extinct. The deforestation of bamboo forests means that the TSNM species has little food to sustain its population. Therefore, the ecological factors have contributed to the increased threats against the TSNM species.
Scientific, Economic, Social, Political and Public Considerations
Scientific input in addressing the threats that TSNM species has seen conservationists and researchers offer extensive support towards ensuring that the species is granted a safe environment. The IUCN has developed a scientific foundation by creating science-based documentation on how the species has become critically threatened. The move by IUCN has led conservationists to invest in ensuring that they address the extinction concerns. Flora and Fauna International has developed conservation programs that have led a science-based campaign towards ensuring that the TSNM species is safe (Guo et al., 2020). More so, the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources (IEBR) has