Coexistence Under Pressure: Tourism and Urban Expansion Threaten Spider Monkey Populations

Global urbanization of nonhuman primate (hereafter primate) habitats is rapidly increasing the overlap between human and primate populations, often resulting in more frequent and complex human-primate interactions. While such interactions have been extensively documented for several terrestrial primate species, interactions are increasingly occurring with arboreal species, especially in highly urbanized touristic destinations. Here, we describe how the rapid expansion of urban and linear infrastructure (e.g., roads, railways) in the forested areas of the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, is affecting local Geoffroy's spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) populations and reshaping human-monkey interactions. Although human-spider monkey interactions are rarely aggressive, the increasingly close contact between people and monkeys poses serious ecological effects, including changes in spider monkey behavior and diet, as well as increased potential for disease transmission and illegal primate trade. Examples from Quintana Roo, however, demonstrate that coexistence is possible through well-enforced no-feeding policies, participatory monitoring of spider monkey populations, and the integration of ecological data into urban and tourism planning. Our aim is to highlight the urgent need for (1) thoughtful, evidence-based coexistence strategies as cities continue to expand into primate habitats and (2) primatologists, conservationists, urban planners, and policymakers to play an active role in integrating primate ecology into land-use and tourism policies to ensure the long-term persistence of primates and the socio-ecological systems they inhabit.