Djam-djam monkeys in Ethiopia
The Ethiopian government is expanding the bamboo industry and without intervention this will have a huge and detrimental impact on the survival of Djam-djam monkeys.
One of the rarest primates in the world
Djam-djam monkeys are bamboo forest specialists, living and feeding on a single species of native highland bamboo, which makes up about 80% of their diet. They’re found in just 26 small isolated bamboo forest fragments in the Sidamo Highlands in southern Ethiopia and are one of the rarest primates in the world. With a total population of less than 800, they’ve recently been classified as Endangered by the IUCN. Djam-djam monkeys are highly threatened by habitat destruction and hunting, however little is known about how best to restore the bamboo forests on which they rely and reduce human-monkey conflict.
Thirty-five per cent of the forest fragments where Djam-djam monkeys live have lost nearly all their bamboo. This has led to intense conflict with local communities as the monkeys supplement their diet by raiding nearby crops. Bamboo is very versatile and can be used to manufacture many products including furniture, fences and flooring. The government is expanding the bamboo industry. Without intervention this will have a detrimental impact on the survival of Djam-djam monkeys.
Restoring bamboo forest
The good news is bamboo is fast-growing and fast-spreading, so improving restoration and implementing more sustainable harvesting should improve the habitat quality for the monkeys as well as improve livelihoods of local communities.
Our long-term colleague Addisu Mekonnen is evaluating how best to restore the bamboo forest, as well as testing whether selective bamboo harvesting rather than clear felling improves the regeneration of bamboo. If it does, this would restore habitat and food faster for the monkeys, while allowing for sustainable harvesting by local communities. Addisu is also testing whether growing alternative crops, which are less palatable to the monkeys, deters the monkeys from coming into the fields. He’ll also carry out awareness and education campaigns about Djam-djam monkey conservation and the sustainable use of bamboo in local communities to reduce conflict and the hunting of monkeys.