Status and conservation of the sun-tailed guenon Cercopithecus solatus, Gabon's endemic monkey

The conservation status of the sun-tailed guenon Cercopithecus solatus, whi ch is endemic to central Gabon, is assessed using the most recent informati on available. The known range of the species covers 11,000-12,000 sq km, an area with a sparse human population but where the logging activity is wide spread. There is no evidence of a recent reduction of the population size o f this monkey, mainly because trees are extracted at a low rate (1-2 trees/ ha), which does not cause a significant change in the forest composition an d structure, and because hunting pressure is currently low. Moreover, the s pecies is suspected to be able to thrive in degraded secondary forests. Con sequently, the sun-tailed guenon does not appear to be under immediate risk of extinction. The conservation actions undertaken to date are described a nd the threats that may affect the monkey in the near future are discussed. Commercial bush-meat hunting is considered to be the most serious threat f or the species. Recommendations for the conservation of wild populations an d habitat are proposed, and emphasis is placed on co-operation with the for estry companies that are the main economic actors in the species's range.