Management of muriquis (Brachyteles, Primates) in captivity

Abstract

Muriquis are the largest of the Neotropical primates. Two forms are recognized today — Brachyteles arachnoides (É. Geoffroy, 1806), the southern muriqui with a black face, and Brachyteles hypoxanthus (Kuhl, 1820), the northern muriqui with face and genitalia mottled pink and black. They occur in eastern Brazil from the south of the state of Bahia to northern Paraná. The destruction, degradation and fragmentation of the Atlantic forest, along with hunting, are the reasons for their severely threatened status today. In this article, I briefly describe the history of conservation efforts and research on muriquis. Captive breeding, although still incipient as an effective conservation measure, has been successful at the Rio de Janeiro Primate Center (CPRJ/FEEMA) and the Curitiba Zoological Park, Paraná. I discuss particularly aspects of breeding success, cage design, colony formation, feeding and nutrition, diseases and the prevention and treatment of illnesses.