President-elect Donald J. Trump has selected Scott Pruitt, the Oklahoma attorney general and a close ally of the fossil fuel industry, to run the Environmental Protection Agency, signaling Mr. Trump’s determination to dismantle President Obama’s efforts to counter climate change — and much of the E.P.A. itself.
Mr. Pruitt, a Republican, has been a key architect of the legal battle against Mr. Obama’s climate change policies, actions that fit with the president-elect’s comments during the campaign. Mr. Trump has criticized the established science of human-caused global warming as a hoax, vowed to “cancel” the Paris accord committing nearly every nation to taking action to fight climate change, and attacked Mr. Obama’s signature global warming policy, the Clean Power Plan, as a “war on coal.”
Scott Pruitt in Washington DC (Photo: Oklahoma Game Development)
Trump’s appointment of Scott Pruitt is causing serious concern among the scientific community and environmentalists all over the world. But primates around the globe should be the more worried about this situation, and let’s not forget that the Homo Sapiens also belongs to the primate family tree.
Trumpocene era
Some scientists refer to the current geological period as the Anthropocene as a mark of the human species’ impact on the planet’s biodiversity and ecosystem function. There are those who believe that the mark of Trump’s presidency will also be notably recorded in geological time.
Are we now on the (in some minds, apocalyptic) threshold of the Trumpocene? Some argue that we already are, at least in terms of social philosophy, with mass rejection of science and expertise in favour of populist posturing – or misinformation. Scientists are worried on numerous fronts. It may be agreeable to some business sectors – fossil fuels, for example – to dismiss climate change and the importance of the environment, but doing so places our planet’s future in serious jeopardy, and human populations with it.
All primates great and small
There are many threats to the world’s primates, not only climate change. Habitat destruction and loss due to deforestation are major drivers of population decline. “I have observed this during my own research of grey mouse lemurs in Madagascar and chimpanzees in Uganda,” said ecologist Jason Gilchrist.
Chimpanzee, Pan troglodytes at Pretoria Zoo. I studied these primates in Uganda where snares set by poachers are a threat. Jason Gilchrist, www.jasongilchrist.co.uk
These species often exist within finite and shrinking patches of forest. Direct persecution also looms large. It is not unusual for chimps and gorillas to bear the scars of poacher’s snares, including lost limbs. Numerous primate species are endangered by the bushmeat trade.
So, what future is there for Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur, the Eastern gorilla … all primates?
Described as a new species in 2000, the tiny Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur is believed to be the world’s smallest living primate.
Eastern Gorilla: the largest of the living apes, the gorilla has a characteristically heavy body shape and shaggy dark coat.
When we talk of primate conservation, we would do well to remember that we are also primates. Looking after the species and habitats of our planet are as important to the future survival, health and welfare of the human species, as they are to the other species that we care about.
Presidents and politicians are important, but we can all make a difference as individuals. Eating less meat and dairy, selecting goods with sustainable palm oil, reducing fuel consumption, and recycling will reduce your environmental impact. And give hope for the future of primates, ourselves included, and other animals.
Monkey Business, a world-first exhibition featuring primates from around the world. From l to r: Sulawesi Crested Macaque (Macaca nigra), critically endangered; Emperor Tamarin (Saguinus imperator subgrisescens), least concern; Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx), vulnerable. Jason Gilchrist, www.jasongilchrist.co.uk
Monkey Business, a new exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, will feature taxidermy specimens that showcase the diversity of primates and threats to their survival.
Ecologist from Edinburgh Napier University said: “I am one of the few people in the world to have seen both the world’s smallest and largest primates in the wild. I don’t want to be the last”.
Sources:
40 comments
Somebody essentially help to make significantly articles I’d state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and up to now? I surprised with the research you made to make this actual post incredible. Fantastic job!
of course like your website but you have to check the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very troublesome to inform the reality on the other hand I will certainly come back again.
I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thanks!
Hi, Neat post. There’s an issue together with your web site in internet explorer, may test this텶E still is the marketplace chief and a good component of people will pass over your fantastic writing due to this problem.
Your blog post had me hooked from the very beginning!
obviously like your web-site but you need to test the spelling on quite a few of your posts. Several of them are rife with spelling problems and I to find it very troublesome to inform the reality on the other hand I’ll certainly come back again.
I’ve read several just right stuff here. Certainly price bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot effort you place to create this kind of great informative website.
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?
Hi my family member! I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written and come with approximately all significant infos. I would like to peer extra posts like this.
I have read some excellent stuff here. Definitely value bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to make the sort of excellent informative website.
I truly appreciate your technique of writing a blog. I added it to my bookmark site list and will moviesbox.net
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great. I don’t know who you are but definitely you’re going to a famous blogger if you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue together with your site in internet explorer, would check this텶E still is the marketplace chief and a large element of other folks will leave out your magnificent writing due to this problem.
Bermain dan Dapatkan link slot thailand serta slot gacor hari ini tanpa rungkat dan pola terbaik slot mahjong disebut pg slot pada karangan pencarian terbanyak dan link gacor hari ini.
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on websites moviesbox.net
Hello, Neat post. There’s an issue together with your site in internet explorer, would check this텶E still is the marketplace chief and a large element of other folks will leave out your magnificent writing due to this problem.
Thank you, I have just been searching for information approximately this topic for a while and yours is the best I have found out so far. However, what in regards to the bottom line? Are you certain concerning the supply?
My brother suggested I might like this website. He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t imagine just how much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
This blog post has left us feeling grateful and inspired
I was recommended this website by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post is written by him as nobody else know such detailed about my difficulty. You are wonderful! Thanks!
This blog post is worth the read – trust us!
Its like you read my mind! You appear to know so much about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with a few pics to drive the message home a little bit, but instead of that, this is excellent blog. A fantastic read. I’ll certainly be back.
I do believe all the ideas you’ve presented for your post. They are really convincing and will certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are too short for novices. May just you please lengthen them a little from subsequent time? Thanks for the post.
What i do not understood is in truth how you are not actually a lot more smartly-liked than you may be now. You are very intelligent. You realize therefore significantly in the case of this topic, produced me individually imagine it from numerous numerous angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be fascinated until it is one thing to do with Woman gaga! Your own stuffs nice. All the time care for it up!
Hi my family member! I want to say that this post is awesome, nice written and come with approximately all significant infos. I would like to peer extra posts like this.
I just could not leave your web site before suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard information a person supply to your visitors? Is gonna be again steadily in order to check up on new posts.
Hi my loved one! I wish to say that this post is amazing, nice written and include approximately all vital infos. I’d like to peer more posts like this.
Your latest blog post was truly inspiring and had some great insights. I can’t wait to see what else you have in store.
What i do not understood is in truth how you are not actually a lot more smartly-liked than you may be now. You are very intelligent. You realize therefore significantly in the case of this topic, produced me individually imagine it from numerous numerous angles. Its like men and women don’t seem to be fascinated until it is one thing to do with Woman gaga! Your own stuffs nice. All the time care for it up!
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem along with your website in internet explorer, would test this텶E still is the market chief and a good section of other folks will pass over your magnificent writing due to this problem.
Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However, how can we communicate?
Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?
Usually I do not read article on blogs, however I would like to say that this write-up very compelled me to take a look at and do it! Your writing style has been amazed me. Thank you, very nice article.
Nice blog here! Also your site loads up very fast! What host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Thanks, I have recently been looking for info about this subject for a while and yours is the greatest I have discovered so far. However, what in regards to the bottom line? Are you certain in regards to the supply?
Let’s spread the love! Tag a friend who would appreciate this post as much as you did.
I just could not leave your web site before suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard information a person supply to your visitors? Is gonna be again steadily in order to check up on new posts.
I simply could not go away your web site prior to suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard info a person supply on your guests? Is going to be back incessantly to investigate cross-check new posts.
Your blog post had me hooked from the very beginning!
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I’ve shared your site in my social networks!