Mandrill  (Mandrillus sphinx)

Mandrill populations have suffered drastic declines due to hunting for their meat. Because they travel in large troops and are easily located by their constant grunting and screaming, entire populations are quickly decimated. Hunting has become lucrative and with the use of dogs, high-powered rifles, spotlights, deep-freezers and trucks it is an even greater threat today than ever before. As human settlements expand, the mandrills are losing their habitats to logging and clearing for agriculture (2).

International trade is prohibited by the mandrill's listing on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (4). However, even if international trade is controlled, there are still substantial threats to the mandrill. Due to severely limited funds for conservation in West Africa, and the difficulties in monitoring these animals in forests, this species is poorly protected if at all. Extinction in the wild is sadly therefore a serious threat for this most spectacular primate (2).