A project sponsored by the Conservation Working Party of the The Río Mayo is one of the main tributaries of the Río Huallaga in northern Peru. Its upper valley, the Alto Mayo, is located on the western edge of the Tropical Andes “biodiversity hotspot”. (Conservation International, 2005) [1]. Numerous human-imposed factors pose serious threats to biodiversity in the region, including road building, oil exploration, invasive alien species and above all, clearing for agricultural purposes. Three primate species are endemic to the Alto Mayo: the Andean (or Rio Mayo) titi monkey (Callicebus oenanthe), the yellow-tailed woolly monkey (Oreonax flavicauda) and the Andean night monkey (Aotus miconax). None of these species are well studied, and all three may be in critical danger of extinction. Primate conservation in the Alto Mayo, northern Peru. Callicebus oenantheOreonax flavicaudaAotus miconax (all rescued monkeys) Ikamaperu owns and manages a 74 hectare reserve in the upper Rio Mayo valley. A recent survey of the reserve confirmed the presence of approximately 23 groups of the rare Andean titi monkey (Callicebus oenanthe) [2]. At least six additional groups live in forest immediately adjacent to the reserve. Population density is unusually high for C. oenanthe at Tarangue: approximately 1.4 individuals per ha. It is possible that Tarangue serves as a refuge for individuals or groups of C. oenanthe displaced by the destruction of surrounding habitat. Ikamaperu is gathering funds to purchase neighbouring lands before remaining patches of forest are destroyed and to link patches of habitat via replanted tree corridors. Immediate measures to prevent further destruction or fragmentation within the Andean titi monkey’s very small geographic range are essential in order to allow the species to persist. The Ikamaperu project was established by Helene and Carlos Palomino to address immediate threats to primates in northern Peru; hunting, the pet trade and habitat loss. Their work has three main focuses: To collaborate with INRENA (the Peruvian Institute of Natural Resources) in order to improve law enforcement and increase protection for the most threatened primate species and to provide an exemplary rescue centre for individual primates confiscated from the pet trade. To increase awareness of vulnerable endemic primate species amongst rural and indigenous communities in Alto Mayo. To protect the rapidly diminishing habitat of the Andean titi monkey along the upper Rio Mayo valley. [1] CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL (2005) Biodiversity hotspots [online]. Conservation International. Available at: [15 October 2005]. [2] ALDRICH, B.C. (2006) A song-based survey of the Andean titi monkey (Callicebus oenanthe) at Tarangue, with notes on its vocalizations. Dissertation (MSc). Oxford Brookes University. Ikamaperu staff working with rescued woolly monkeys. Ikamaperu’s reserve along the Rio Mayo Andean titi monkey photographed during a survey of the reserve (B. Aldrich) Replanting tree corridors between forest fragments on the reserve. UK contact : Lucy Molleson Peru contact:: Helene Collongues