ADSORPTIVE CAPACITY OF CHARCOALS EATEN BY ZANZIBAR RED COLOBUS MONKEYS - IMPLICATIONS FOR REDUCING DIETARY TOXINS

Colobus monkeys on the African island of Zanzibar eat charcoal from bu rned trees and lying near kilns, where if is produced for cooking. Thi s behavior may be a learned response for counteracting toxicity due to phenolic and similar compounds that occur in significant concentratio ns in the Indian almond (Terminalia catappa) leaves and mango (Mangife ra indica) leaves which constitute a major part of their diet. Accordi ngly, we studied the adsorption of organic materials from hot water ex tracts of Indian almond and mango leaves by five charcoals collected i n Zanzibar For comparison, we also evaluated three commercial powdered activated charcoals. Three African charcoals collected at kilns adsor bed more organic material than two kinds collected from burned tree st umps. The commercial activated charcoals adsorbed the organic material best, as expected, yet the African kiln charcoals adsorbed surprising ly well. Thus, the hypothesized function of charcoal eating is support ed.