Humans, as animals with hands, hand-like feet, and forward eyes, are primates. Luckily, we are far from extinction with an international population of approximately 7.4 billion. Unfortunately, for our fellow primates, our existence and habits are killing them off. Many, including lemurs, Yunnan Snub-Nosed monkeys, and some gorillas, have only thousands left worldwide. The Hainan Gibbon has less than 30 remaining worldwide.

Brazil, Madagascar, The Democratic Republic of Congo, and Indonesia host more than two-thirds of the species of primates. Primates like lush, tropical areas, but humans are rapidly decreasing this climate.

Through deforestation so we can grow food, or increase housing, or build a new shopping center, we are slowly killing off our distant cousins. Oil and gas drilling also pose a large threat.

To help conserve this much needed climate will take time that the monkeys don’t have. Scientists’ goal is to create more conservation areas, which depend on governmental funding across the world.

Primates’ decline is affecting plant-life and other animal life in the rainforests and has a very negative affect. People must come together internationally to save the monkeys and apes.