Proyecto Mono Tocon

The San Martin titi monkey (Plecturocebus oenamthe) is one the 25 most endangered primate species in the world and is classed as the rarest primate in Peru. This is why Proyecto Mono Tocon are dedicated to protecting and conserving the remaining titi monkeys in their natural habitat.

This critically endangered species (IUCN, 2020) is only found within select forest patches in Peru and is threatened with extinction due to a large threat of habitat loss. Major problems like with titi monkey natural habitat being lowland rainforest, meaning it's very flat, ideal for farming and agriculture, whilst also being vulnerable to illegal logging. The titi monkey is also hunted for bushmeat and captured for the illegal pet trade.

Proyecto Mono Tocon's mission is the conservation of the biodiversity of Peru, with a focus on the protection of the San Martin titi monkey and its tropical forest habitat.

In order to initiate a steady recovery from a critical situation, conservationists working for Proyecto Mono Tocon must incorporate a multi-faceted approach. 

Restoration of titi monkey habitat is achieved through planting natural corridors and increasing the connectivity of isolated forest patches. Tree saplings are grown in nurseries before being carefully transplated within extensively studied reforestation sites.

Economic development is supported through capacity building 

Blackpool Zoo is a founding contributor to World Land Trust's 1651-acre BIAZA reserve sector at REGUA, Brazil. this area remains under protection through WLT's Brazilian partner, REGUA, and forms part of the wider reserve, where the total area protected currently stands at 12,000 ha. This area stands as prime Atlantic Forest habitat for species like the Southern woolly spider monkey (Brachyteles arachnoides) and lowland tapir into the reserve began in 2017, with successful breeding already confirmed through camera trap monitoring and tracking individuals.

We have also helped to fund the protection of a strategically and ecologically important 4,416-hectare wildlife corridor name El Pantanoso, in Argentina. This corridor is essential to maintain the habitat connectivity of heavily threatened species like jaguar and andean condor whilst remaining inaccessible to hunters, loggers and oil prospectors seeking to exploit the rainforest. Engaging local people through research and biodiversity studies has helped to identify more than 120 species of trees, 140 species of butterflies, 350 species of birds, and 120 species of mammals so far.