Genetic Diversity of Peter’s Angola Colobus Monkey Populations in Northern Tanzania and in Accredited American Zoos

The Angolan colobus monkey (Colobus angolensis) is a diverse species with seven recognized subspecies. Peter’s Angola colobus, C. a. palliatus, resides in isolated and highly fragmented areas of Kenya and Tanzania that are facing increasing human encroachment. There is debate whether Peter’s Angola colobus is actually a single subspecies or two distinct subspecies. Non-invasive fecal samples have been recently collected by the conservation organization Colobus Conservation from critical areas of Peter’s Angola colobus’ range. By combining the resources and expertise of the Saint Louis Zoo and WashU, we will analyze DNA obtained from these samples. This work will resolve the subspecific status of Peter’s Angola colobus and identify wild populations with critical, vulnerable and unique diversity. This work will also enable better estimates of population size and more targeted approaches to conservation. We will further analyze samples from the United States captive population to resolve the wild origins of the founder animals and characterize how much of the diversity found within wild populations is represented in the United States captive population. This information can inform future management and breeding strategies for the captive population.

This project is complete. More information is available through the publications listed.

Publications

McDonald MM, Cunneyworth PMK, Anderson AG, Wroblewski E. (2023). Wild origins and mitochondrial genetic diversity of Angolan Colobus monkeys (Colobus angolensis) in AZA-accredited zoos and its implications for ex situ population management. Zoo Biology. 42(5):668-674. doi: 10.1002/zoo.21775

McDonald MM, Cunneyworth PMK, Anderson AG, Wroblewski E. (2022). Mitochondrial genetic diversity and divergence dating of Angolan colobus monkeys in the eastern forests of Kenya and Tanzania: implications for subspeciation and reconstructing historical biogeography. American Journal of Primatology. doi:10.1002/ajp.23384

Research Team

Monica McDonald, Saint Louis Zoo
Emily Wroblewski, WashU (Anthropology)
Pamela M. K. Cunneyworth, Colobus Conservation