Adaptive Behaviors Are Not Enough


    A review of ape behavior adaptations as a result of human activities has shown that while apes are highly adaptive animals, and they consistently change behaviors to try to keep up with rapid habitat change, but that alone is not enough to keep them alive. Some orangutans crop-forage. In some areas they are not seen as much of a pest, but in others they are still feared, trapped, and killed. Apes do whatever they can to adapt, but that can introduce more consequences. 

    The only way to continue to protect apes is by continuing conservation efforts locally, but what that looks like can differ between locations and how apes are behaving. The biggest obstacle is dealing industry projects that only care for profits and have no desire to protect and preserve local environments, economies, or people. The incentive of saving the environment is not enticing enough to make up for profit loss for many companies and the occasional individual. No behavioral adaptation apes make will have the positive effects of wildlife corridors, sustainable land use, community conservation efforts, and land protection. It is still up to us to save the primates. 


   




https://news.mongabay.com/2025/03/as-apes-adapt-to-human-disturbance-their-new-behaviors-also-put-them-at-risk-study/

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