Background and Mission

The field of the activities of the Center can be included into the area of The Conservation Medicine. We are interested to study the factors effecting the well being of the Colombian wildlife and primates indeed. We are interested  at the animal and specie's levels. We want to look and give alternatives for their management and conservation. 

 Projects to date include:

 1. Data base development: NATIVE PRIMATES IN CAPTIVITY IN COLOMBIA

The data base of the Colombian primates in captivity in the country, includes animals kept in such as places like zoos, research centers, rescue and rehabilitation centers, private collections, universities and natural parks. Monkeys kept as pets are not registered here. We want to help  the Colombian institutions to keep their records in a friendly data base, and to give a tool to the national collection plan.  

Through this data base, we want to make a record of all animals kept in captivity in Colombia. It includes basic information (species, gender, age, origin), body measurements and clinical data. Also,  we give some information referring to management and keeping procedures at the Colombian institutions. It is a tool to share our experiences in the management of primates. 

How we are doing the data base 

We are collecting information on the places holding Colombian primates in captivity in the country. Those institutions that keep primates and are not registered already, can get their registration through this page. 

Maintenance and access 

Institutions already registered can have access to the information using a password. It is free. These institutions can do queries and up date information according to their needs. These institutions can let know to other organizations, their needs of inventory or their collection surplus. Organizations belonging to SINA, which do not keep primates in captivity, will be able to carry queries and register animals. Also they can post when they want to locate a primate. People interested in primates that do not belong to one of these categories, will be able to search for some information, mainly about primates management and maintenance procedures. 

Benefits 

The data base will support the organizations managing primates in Colombia to coordinate their institutional efforts, enhance their communications and decreased their costs . Also, the data base will facilitate the permanent analysis of the primates situation and will help to keep the information. Each institution will have a tool to show its needs of inventory. Environmental agencies managing confiscated fauna can search for alternatives to dispose confiscated primates. It is important to clarify that the aim of the Centro de Primatología Araguatos  is to offer a tool to help entities managing primates in Colombia. Araguatos will only keep and maintain the information of the data base. Therefore, the  organizations  interested in any animal movement must have to contact directly and follow the necessary  legal procedures. 

Costs

Institution registration is free. It is being required from  the institution, a cooperation to give us the information and, once its records are in, to keep the data up dated.

Research:  HEALTH OF THE NATURAL POPULATION OF PRIMATES IN COLOMBIA

The actual knowledge on medicine and pathology of the Colombian  primates natural populations is little. This has motivated us to carry research on these subjects, with the cooperation of other institutions like Proyecto Tití, Universidad de la Salle, Universidad Distrital, Pontificia Universidad Universidad Javeriana, CIMPAT, INS, and WCS (field veterinary program)

We have started our program with the research A pilot study on Cebus apella and Alouatta seniculus to evaluate the health of the Colombian Primates and identify  risks for their conservation. This project is sponsored by a Grant of The Field Veterinary Project of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).  

The researchers linked to this project are:   

- Fernando Nassar Montoya, Centro de Primatología Araguatos 
- Victoria Pereira, Centro de Primatología Araguatos
- Pilar Calvo, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de la Salle
- Manuel Ruiz, Universidad Javeriana
- Tamara Vodovoz, Centro de Primatología Araguatos 
- Pablo Escobar, Estudiante Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
- Milena Barrios, Estudiante Universidad Distrital
- Diana Daza, Universidad Distrital
- Diana Barrios, CIMPAT
- Nestor Pinto, CIMPAT
- Manuel Ruiz, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
- Felipe Ghul, CIMPAT
- Jorge Boshell, INS