Anthropology Reflection

Both my Primates in Peril and Global Problems, Local Action papers have main focal

points on deforestation. It's a downfall and threat to primates of all species. However there are

solutions and actions being taken in both cases to help improve the tearing down of forests for

logging or agricultural expansion. Species are constantly added to the extinction list and taken

off due to threats such as deforestation.

There are different things throughout the chapters that stood out to me that I found

interesting and didn't know before. How the aye-aye lemur has a longer middle finger then the

rest of its fingers to its advantage. There are crazy myths and legends that come with the aye-

ayes extra long middle finger such as being cursed just from being pointed at with it. I really

enjoyed the lemur section and the festival. I've always watched the movie Madagascar but I

never realized just how realistic is was, seeing as how you can only find lemurs in Madagascar

and not any other parts of the world. The tarsier problem as well stood out to me, I didn't

realize just how many monkeys were endangered. Throughout the course I thought we were

specifically going to be learning about monkeys and their traits and habitats but I enjoyed the

more of like biology side of it too. Studying the skulls and teeth, measuring the bones were not

only fun but interesting activities. In this part of the course what really intrigues me is how
diverse monkeys get around differently. Whether they're quadrupedal, vertical clingers and

leapers, or bipedal like us.

Before taking this course I can honestly say that I had no idea the threats of primates or

other wildlife. I didn't know about biodiversity or what it was in the primate world. I did have

some understanding as to what conservation and sustainability meant for wildlife including

primates but after taking this course I realize how crucial it is. Humans, aside from

environmental problems that only nature has control of, showed me just how much of a

negative impact we have on wildlife and natural environments. Humans tearing down forests

for logging and agricultural expansion is such a threat to primates in their natural habitats and

is really taking a toll. There are also poachers that hunt monkeys for their meat, trade as pets,

and more. I didn't realize how many conservations and protection programs there are because

of these threats. However they are making a difference and I'm glad I got to participate in part

of one that helps the lemur charity programs.