© CI/Photo by John Martin
Development projectsand natural resource extraction efforts require infrastructure to support construction
and personnel. This usually translates into creating roads in previously undisturbed areas.
With roads come direct loss of habitat, erosion, pollution and the threat of easy-access for poachers, farmers and illegal harvesters of plants and animals. It also brings the increased chance of disease transmission, introduced predators and fire. All this enhanced activity heightens threats to primates and other denizens of the jungle.
Roads also create the possibility of primates being hit by fast moving vehicles. Luckily, concerned citizens are trying to lessen the impact of "road-kill" losses on primate populations in some parts of the world by looking for creative solutions.
In Kenya, for example, conservationists are acting to reduce the number of black and white colobus monkey deaths caused from cars by putting up "reduce speed" signs and building small bridges over roads so arboreal colobus will not have to descend the trees and cross dangerous streets.
READ MORE: Habitat loss is also caused by development projects, fires, and slash-and-burn agriculture.