(Photo credit: Daniel Ferraz)

In 1983, Karen Strier spent her first year of research in the Brazilian rainforest observing northern muriquis. This slender vegetarian can measure up to 5 feet from head to prehensile tail, and weigh up to 33 pounds, the largest wild primate in the Americas. Unlike some other famous primates, these “hippie monkeys” are extraordinarily peaceable, demonstrating the diversity of behaviors across our family tree. Strier and her team know each of the reserve's 232 muriquis by name, based on detailed illustrations of their facial pigments and other physical traits. Fernanda Pedreira Tabacow, a former student and now Strier's right arm, recently used information gained through their studies to successfully reinstate a small breeding population in an isolated habitat fragment. At the recent celebration of Strier's 40 years of work, she urged the Environment Ministry to create a vital corridor to connect remaining populations.

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