Check out my last story for SilverKris, an interview with the President of the Jane Goodall Institute in Singapore, primatologist Andie Ang.
As well as covering Andie's travels around the world to study primates, the story also shines a spotlight on Singapore's own unique primate population, the challenges they face and what we can all do to help them survive and hopefully thrive. Of particular interest to me was the fact that Singapore is home to one of the last population’s of the critically endangered Raffles Banded Langur, the main focus of Andie’s current studies.
Indeed, having spent the last few months exploring Singapore’s green spaces I’ve become increasingly aware of the sizeable populations of primates, specifically the numerous troops of street wise long tailed macaques. I’ll admit that while I find watching them fascinating, I am also nervous in their presence - aware that constant contact with humans has altered their behaviour somewhat, making them see us as a potential source of easy food - something that has made some monkeys more aggressive in their attitude. As Andi explains this is really not the Macaques fault but a direct result of people’s behaviour in the past, something that the Jane Goodall Institute is attempting to change through their Roots and Shoots education program.
I am particularly keen to experience one of their monkey walks which show people how best to view the troops undisturbed in their natural habitat once the current social distancing rules are relaxed. Do check out the story and do check out the great work that the Jane Goodall Institute is doing to help protect primates, both here in Singapore and around the world.