Unprecedented research aims to confirm the occurrence of a rare monkey species in Marajó

The Institute for Forest Development and Biodiversity of Pará (Ideflor-Bio) received, on this Monday (1st), researchers from the National Center for Primates (Cenp), linked to the Evandro Chagas Institute; from the University of California and other invited specialists to discuss the progress of the Project "Geographical Distribution of Cebus kaapori in the Mesoregion of Marajó." The species, considered one of the 25 most endangered on the planet, is part of the National Plan for the Conservation of Amazonian Primates.

The meeting was attended by the manager of the Administrative Region of Marajó of Ideflor-Bio, Hugo Dias; the biologist of the Institute, Matheus Henrique Cosme, and researchers Klebson Demelas Maurício, Jessica Lynch Ward, and Osvaldo Pimentel Marques Neto.

The project aims to confirm the presence of Cebus kaapori, known as cairara-kaapori, in the Marajó Archipelago. Its occurrence, previously restricted to Maranhão and northeastern Pará, may extend to the Marajó region, according to reports from residents and preliminary genetic analyses of an individual raised as a pet in the municipality of Afuá, which indicate this possibility.

During the meeting, essential points related to the authorization process for research in the conservation units under the responsibility of Ideflor-Bio in the region were discussed, as well as possibilities for technical cooperation between the involved institutions. "Understanding the population dynamics of individuals in the Mesoregion of Marajó is essential to support public policies and actions aimed at the conservation of endangered species, such as Cebus kaapori," highlighted manager Hugo Dias.

Planning - The planned activities include field expeditions in strategic areas in Marajó, interviews in local communities, collection of biological material for genetic and health analyses, and the georeferencing of individuals. The study will also investigate potential infectious agents that may impact the health of the animals, contributing to the monitoring of emerging diseases.

According to the researchers, confirming the presence of the cairara-kaapori in Marajó would represent a significant advance for the conservation of local biodiversity, reinforcing the importance of protected areas, such as the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of the Marajó Archipelago and the Charapucu State Park.

The next steps involve the official release of the research, the formalization of technical cooperation agreements, and the construction of integrated strategies to strengthen the conservation of Amazonian fauna. The expectation is that the first results of the expeditions may be presented as early as 2026, placing Marajó at the center of discussions on the preservation of endangered primates in Brazil.