As one of the 25 most endangered primate species, the roloway monkey definitely stands out in appearance. It is the largest among the species of guenons, a species that is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Most are forest monkeys.

The most distinctive characteristic of the roloway monkey is its creamy-white goat's beard and the smooth and beautiful coat all over its body. The goat's beard exists on both males and females, so the two sexes almost look entirely alike except that males are slightly larger than females and have longer tails as well as larger canines.

Roloway monkeys have a huge appetite for fruit, though they also consume insects, leaves, and seeds. In Ghana's Bia National Forest, where these monkeys are protected, insects are mostly consumed by these monkeys in the wet season, whereas consumption of fruit pulp and seeds peaks in the dry season. These monkeys also have a unusual appetite for animal matter such as feces and remains. However, males eat more fruit than females while females eat more foliage and animal matter since this is more nutritious.

The roloway monkeys only live in a small area of eastern Ivory Coast and the forests of Ghana. They cannot adapt to an environment other than these lush forests.

However, according to the latest assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2019, there are less than 1,000 roloway monkeys left in Ghana, making them critically endangered. The population of roloway monkey continues to decline rapidly, even in protected areas like the Bia National Forest.

The decline in population is mainly caused by habitat loss and hunting. Agricultural activities and logging has driven the monkeys to smaller and more fragmented regions. In the past century, Ghana has lost 80 percent of its forested land. At the same time, the large size and beautiful pelt of the roloway monkeys make them a favorable target for hunters looking for bushmeat.

The bushmeat trade in Ghana exceeds 800 tons per year, this is equivalent to weight of 160,000 monkeys or 200 elephants.

Primates in jeopardy

As the most common primate on Earth, homo sapiens share the same order with other 512 species across 93 countries. Non-human primates are our closest relatives on this planet. They play a significant role in various types of ecosystems, from the mysterious tropical forests to the grand African savannas, their intelligence is fascinating and sheds light into studies of human society and behaviors.

However, many species of primates are on the brink of extinction. The series "Primates in jeopardy" is based on the list "World's 25 Most Endangered Primates (2018-2020)" co-published by IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG), International Primatological Society (IPS), Global Wildlife Conservation (GWC) and Bristol Zoological Society (BZS).

This is the tenth iteration of a biennial listing of a consensus of the 25 primate species considered to be among the most endangered worldwide and the most in need of conservation measures.

(All photos via VCG. Cover image designed by CGTN's Chen Yuyang.)

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