Species found only in the region of Manaus, the sauim-de-coleira is more threatened by deforestation

May 23, 2022

07:05

Marcela Leiros – Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – The sauim-de-coleira is a small primate that weighs between 450g and 550g. The mammal, which has as characteristic a white band of down on the upper half of the chest that ends at the neck, is an endemic species restricted to the Manaus region, extending to Rio Preto da Eva and Itacoatiara, cities in Amazonas. In other words, it is only in this region of the Amazon forest where this animal lives and reproduces. But deforestation and destruction of forest fragments have placed the sauim in the ranking of critically endangered species.

On the World Day of Biological Diversity, celebrated on May 22, CENARIUM MAGAZINE shows a little of the worrisome reality of the species, whose habitat is routinely threatened and destroyed.

The animals of this species live, today, in a reduced area of only 7.5 thousand km², according to the Saium-de-Coleira Institute, a non-governmental organization that aims to develop scientific research, conservation, environmental education and public policy articulation actions for the protection of the collared sauim and its habitat.

“The main threat to this species is habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation. Its distribution, besides being restricted, coincides with the Manaus/Itacoatiara development axis (…) Thus, every year the sauins see their forest being replaced by human settlements, pastures, plantations and large infrastructure works. And the impact of this occupation of space by man ends up promoting a continuous and accelerated deforestation, leading to the death of thousands of sauins”, says the Saium-de-Coleira Institute.

The species is endemic and restricted to the Amazon rainforest. (Reproduction/ Instituto Sauim-de-Coleira)

The loss of habitat for sauins also forces these animals to live near urban settlements. “In a world of cement and asphalt, this small primate needs to deal with streets and avenues, heavy vehicle traffic, electrical networks, domestic animals and men, not always friendly or well-intentioned,” also points out the institute.

Preservation and conservation

Another project that aims to protect these animals is the Sauim-de-Coleira Project, which works with monitoring groups of this species found in fragments in the city and continuous forest both in Manaus and in the other two municipalities, seeking information about the biology of this species.

This Saturday, 21st, CENARIUM reported that a construction work in the Southern Sector of the Federal University of Amazonas (Ufam) may contribute even more to the loss of habitat of the sauim. Raiclicia Nayara, a Biological Sciences student at the university and member of the Sauim-de-Coleira Project, explained more about the actions developed by the initiative even inside the institution itself which, for being one of the largest urban forest fragments in the country and having roads embedded in the middle of the forest, is also where many animals such as monkeys of the parauacus species, sloths and sauins are run over.

“One of the methods adopted to minimize the trampling [of animals, inside the university] for example is the construction of walkways where the small mammals use them to cross the avenue inside the campus,” she said.

“Besides the creation of fruit tree seedlings and pioneer species for planting in previously deforested fragments aiming at the recovery of the degraded area, within the campus itself there are several areas that the project has planted and monitors to prevent them from being cut down,” she concluded.