Zanzibar Red Colobus - Habitat

Habitat

The Zanzibar red colobus is found in three forests of the Zanzibar archipelago. It displays a wide habit tolerance, but it is mainly an arboreal species and prefers drier areas over wet ones. Habitats include places such as coastal thickets and coastal rag scrub, but can also be found in agricultural areas and in mangrove swamps; in which the latter provides food year-round. When found in agricultural areas, the monkey is more used to humans and comes closer to the ground.

There are approximately a total of 1,600 to 3,000 individuals and currently, 50% of the monkeys found on the islands live outside protected zones. The largest and most significant area of protection and habitat for the monkey is in Jozani National Park, which provides 25 km2 (9.7 sq mi) of land reserve. It is located on the main island and the populations here have been greatly studied in regards to both their ecology and behavior. Even so, many groups have been found in shambas (Swahili for "farmland") within close proximity to the park. It has been reported that in these shambas adjacent to the park, there are actually higher densities of the red colobus living here in more cohesive groups, compared to inside the park reserve. The incidence of some of these monkeys living permanently outside the zone of the protected park reserve can increase the endangerment of the groups.