Advancing primate conservation: a global collection of education and outreach initiatives.

Abstract

This special issue on Primate Conservation Education and Outreach assembles the largest collection of conservation education interventions focused on primates to date, aiming to highlight the urgent need for educational initiatives to mitigate the ongoing threats to primate species. Despite decades of warnings from primatologists about the escalating risks to primate populations, including habitat loss, illegal hunting, and human-primate conflict, conservation education remains underdeveloped in the field of primatology. This issue explores 20 diverse case studies from across the globe, with contributions from field sites in Central and South America, Africa, and Asia. The education programmes discussed range in scope, duration, and target audience, with many linked to long-term research projects. A key finding is the significant variation in programme design and evaluation methods, with challenges in assessing long-term behaviour change and conservation impact. The issue emphasises the importance of creative, participatory approaches such as puppet shows, community outreach, and place-based education, which have proven successful in fostering deeper engagement and understanding of primate conservation. Despite the barriers faced, including limited funding and cultural challenges, the authors stress the importance of both small-scale and long-term educational interventions in the global effort to protect primates. This volume serves as a call to action for primatologists to integrate conservation education into their research and outreach efforts, thereby contributing to the preservation of our closest living relatives.