Nuevo registro de Mono araña negro colombiano ( Ateles fusciceps ) en el Parque Nacional Natural Las Orquídeas

The black spider monkey Ateles fusciceps is categorized by the IUCN as Critically Endangered (CR) and it is estimated that more than 80 % of the population has been reduced in the last 45 years due to deforestation and hunting pressures. The scarce information about their presence and the current state of their populations prevents local efforts towards the conservation of this species. Here, we report a sighting of A. fusciceps in a non suitable habitat (1778 m) within Las Orquideas National Natural Park in northwestern Colombia, which raises attention on the need to focus conservation strategies within this protected area and increase direct efforts for the monitoring of their populations, habitat restoration and reduction of hunting pressures in optimal areas (<850 m) for the survival of the species.