Many people enjoy watching primates, whether free-ranging or in zoos or sanctuaries. This activity can have positive impacts on primate conservation and contribute to local livelihoods when conducted responsibly.
In October 2023, the IUCN Species Survival Commission Primate Specialist Group Section on Human–Primate Interactions, in collaboration with the Section on Small Apes, published place-based and primate-specific recommendations for responsible primate-watching (excluding large apes, for which there are already guidelines: Macfie & Williamson, 2010, Best Practice Guidelines for Great Ape Tourism, IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group). Responsible Primate-Watching for Tourists aims to provide accessible information about how to watch primates and is designed to ensure minimal impact on them.
The recommendations include information on how to behave around primates either in a planned tour or during unplanned encounters. Recommendations are also available for nocturnal primates and primates in zoos and sanctuaries. Responsible primate-watching means considering primate welfare, their conservation and that of the ecosystems they inhabit, and the wellbeing and livelihoods of people living with or close to primates. The recommendations are available by region and for particular primate groups. Many of the chapters have been translated into range country languages, including Bengali and Malagasy. We are developing a mobile phone app to facilitate access to the recommendations.
In February 2024, we published Responsible Primate Watching for Tourism Professionals. Our audience includes, but is not restricted to, researchers, managers, government officials, tour operators and site managers. We examine the benefits and costs of primate-watching and discuss the issues around habituating primates for this activity. Along with general recommendations, we provide specific recommendations for primate tourism site management and for the development of new primate-watching initiatives.
Both documents are available from human-primate-interactions.org/resources1. We hope everyone either primate-watching or managing it in some way will read these documents to learn more about primate-watching in different contexts, and that these recommendations will ensure the coexistence of people and primates while benefitting the people who live alongside them.
Open access
