This is part three in a series on primates and conservation. Check out parts one and two here. If you want to help with saving our environment and animal conservation efforts follow the tips below! Even the smallest efforts can make an impact on primate conservation, and help combat against the effects of global warming. 

1. 

   Practice non-consumerism and conscious shopping.
   • • Non-consumerism is essentially secondhand shopping. Buying used items gives a second life to an item that was donated to a consignment or thrift shop, reduces the demand for new product creation (and the plastic that comes with it), and is generally much cheaper.
     • Conscious grocery shopping can help reduce the use of and demand for products that contribute to deforestation or other threats to wildlife. 
       • • Bringing reusable bags when shopping and cooking meals from scratch can reduce the amount of plastic consumed.
         • Checking the ingredients in products before you purchase can help, for example, reduce the use and production of palm oil. In fact, given recent efforts from orangutan conservation groups, many companies have started to reduce or eliminate palm oil from their ingredients.
         • Gardening and shopping local at farmers markets[1] reduces the carbon emissions it takes to bring food from all over the world to your table. Composting also reduces the cost of buying fertilizer to sustain your at-home garden.
           
2. Take public transportation, ride your bike, or walk whenever you can.
   
3. Use bars of soap.
   • • Using bars of soap, shampoo, conditioner, etc. reduces the amount of packaging that comes with bottles, and many local soap shops will let you bring your own containers and reusable bags to fill.
4. Reduce the use of air conditioning in the summer (which saves your energy bill and reduces carbon emissions).
5. Donate your money. Donating to conservation groups can significantly help with field research on the impacts of conservation efforts, help house and rehabilitate animals that were displaced or harmed by deforestation or poaching, and continue research into changes that humans can make to help reduce their impact on wildlife and the environment.  Some reliable conservation groups include:
   • • Here is a general focus primate conservation organization.
     • Home to a small group of bonobos, The Ape Cognition and Conservation Initiative research focuses on the conservation and protection of Great Apes around the world.
     • The Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme rescues illegally kept orangutans and rehabilitates them to be released back into the wild, and assists with habitat protection for the remaining wild orangutans in Sumatra.
     • Wildlife Conservation Society focuses on the conservation of all animals including many primate species.
6. Contribute your time. Most conservation and wildlife rescue groups are nonprofit and run off of volunteer help. Here are some local, national, and global organizations you can volunteer with:
   • • • • • Indiana Wildlife Federation
           • Indianapolis Zoo
           • US Fish and Wildlife
           • The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago assists in marine conservation efforts.
           • Look on local museum, aquarium, zoo, and Fish and Wildlife websites to find more volunteer opportunities.
7. If you’re traveling to a country with wild primates, research the area you’re visiting beforehand to ensure that the primates in the area are treated humanely, and live in protected areas. If you ever see advertisements for shows that include a live primate, that primate was most likely illegally obtained and inhumanely kept. When going on safari, look for organizations that highlight “look but don’t touch” and keeping safe distances from wildlife.  Although it is extremely rare, there are a few places where interactions with animals are humane, such as The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust in Nairobi, Kenya. This organization rescues and rehabilitates wildlife in the area and then releases them into protected areas where the organization has worked with the locals on how to interact and protect the animals.

   

  [1] The Bloomington City Farmer’s Market has failed to address white supremacy for over a year, and they continue to fail now. For those of you who are local and would like an alternative options to staying green try the People’s Market, nearby farm stands, or contact your favorite vendors directly.   Edited by Evan Arnet and Jennifer Sieben