Letters From the Field ~ A Blog


*Letters From the Field* is a blog written by contributors studying or working with animals in their natural habitats. It is a compilation of their stories and/ or experiences. If you would like to share your experiences by contributing to this blog, please contact us.

	Latest stories
Gibbons - Part 1: Overview By Kaitlyn-Elizabeth Foley It has been brought to my attention that I have yet to blog about any Gibbon (family Hylobatidae) species since the NEPS blog's inception. I owe much to Gibbons. They were the first primates that I was able to work with and, in turn, sparked the fire for my passion for primates and drive to fight for their conservation. This month I am going to give a brief overview of the Gibbons, and focus later on different species ... so stay tuned. read>>

Healthy Gorillas = Happy Gorillas - Part 2 By Diana Marsilio Why do animals act the way they do? What are the normal behaviors that a gorilla in the wild would display? What does it mean when gorillas, or other animals, in captivity demonstrate unusual behaviors? In my last blog, I introduced the western lowland gorilla and briefly discussed what their lives are like in the wild – how their environment, food, and behaviors differ from what we may see in captive populations. I’d like to now focus a little more on animal behavior as a function of living in captivity. read>>

Gelada By Kaitlyn-Elizabeth Foley Happy New Year! This month’s blog is about the beautiful Old World Monkeys that occupy the Ethiopian Highlands, the Geladas. Geladas, Theropithecus gelada, are a fascinating group of primates most closely related to the baboons, drills and mandrills. Two sub-species have been described: The Northern Gelada, Theropithecus gelada gelada Hueglin’s Gelada, Theropithecus gelada obscurus. Geladas live in large groups in the mountains of Ethiopia. These monkeys occupy some of the highest altitudes of all the primates, reaching heights of over 14,700 feet above sea level! read>>



	Other Recent Stories
Snow Leopard By Kaitlyn-Elizabeth Foley For this month's blog it seemed most fitting to do a piece on an animal that lives in the colder climates, and what better a species than the beautiful Snow Leopard. Enjoy and please stay tuned for our next blog in January to welcome the New Year. Amongst the snow capped mountainous regions of Central and South Asia hides the cryptic and majestic Snow Leopard Uncia uncia. Today there are only an estimated 3,500-7,000 total left in the wild spanning across Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. read>>
Owl Monkey By Kaitlyn-Elizabeth Foley Owl Monkeys are the only nocturnal New World primates. The arboreal Owl Monkeys (Genus Aotus) are divided into two groups based on color variations, geographic distribution and karyotypes. Owl Monkeys are not sexually dimorphic in size, with weights ranging from one to three pounds depending on subspecies. Characteristics of these cute wide-eyed primates include light yellow fur on their undersides (stomach, inner legs, under arms) and crown-like stripes on their heads (between and on sides of eyes). read>>
Sanje Mangabey By Kaitlyn-Elizabeth Foley The Sanje Mangabey, Cercocoebus sanjei, is an Old World monkey classified in the white-eyelid mangabey group. These monkeys are endemic to two forest areas in Tanzania, the Mwanihana Forest and the Udzungwa Scarp Forest Reserves in East Africa. The Sanje Mangabey is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Population estimates by the IUCN were as low as 1,300 individuals back in 2005. read>>
Mouse Lemur By Kaitlyn-Elizabeth Foley The worlds’ smallest primate is the Pygmy Mouse Lemur, weighing only 30 grams at maturity. That’s the same size as a ¼ cup! The genus Cebus describes anywhere from 8-15 species, ten of which have been described within the last decade. The most researched species are Grey Mouse, Brown Mouse Lemur and Golden-Brown Mouse Lemur. These tiny primates are all less than 10.6 inches from head to tail, with size length ranging between species. read>>
Healthy Gorillas = Happy Gorillas - Part 1 By Diana Marsilio There is no doubt that non-human primates are a star attraction for many zoo visitors. Gorillas are the largest of all non-human primates. In my opinion, it may be their large size paired with their seemingly humane demeanor which fascinates animal lovers. read>>
Irrawaddy Dolphin By Kaitlyn-Elizabeth Foley Cambodian legend states that the Irrawaddy dolphin was once a beautiful maiden. When she was going to be forced to marry a python she decided to throw herself into the Mekong River, where she was then transformed into a dolphin. The Irrawaddy looks similar to the Beluga whale. However, they are most closely related to the Killer Whale. These dolphins have a distinct large rounded head with a small beak and long flippers. read>>