International Primatological Society

02/04/2026

We regret to inform you of the death of Dr. Birutė Galdikas, a prominent primatologist and dedicated supporter of orangutan conservation. Her passing embodies the closure of a remarkable chapter in the history of primatology. Birutė was the last surviving member of a group of amazing women who completely altered and enlightened our understanding of our closest living relatives. Birutė was indeed one of the pioneers of research on great apes, alongside Diane Fossey for mountain gorillas and Jane Goodall for chimpanzees.

Since 1971, Birutė has dedicated her life to researching and protecting orangutans and their habitats in Borneo. Her groundbreaking research and unwavering commitment transformed our understanding of orangutans and inspired numerous young scientists, conservationists, and environmentalists globally. She worked tirelessly, acted and spoke with conviction, and unapologetically defended what she believed in. Her impact endures in the rainforests of Borneo she diligently fought to safeguard and in the many lives she touched through her dedication and passion.

We extend our heartfelt sympathies to her family, colleagues, and everyone influenced by her extraordinary life and purpose. We mourn the passing of an exceptional pioneer.
📸 Simon Fraser University

22/01/2026

Dear Member,

As a member of the ” International Primatological Society (IPS)” you are entitled to an online subscription to the journal ”International Journal of Primatology” for one year. Watch out!

21/08/2025

It is with a very heavy heart that we share the loss of a friend, colleague, mentor and leader in primate conservation, Prof. Augustin Basabose. We wish to extend our deepest and most sincere condolences to his family and to all who ever had the privilege and chance to know him.

His passing represents a profound loss for primate and community-based conservation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and for Africa and beyond. Augustin obtained a PhD from Kyoto University under the supervision of Prof. Juichi Yamagiwa in 2005 studying sympatric chimpanzees and Grauer’s gorillas in the Kahuzi-Biega National Park. He then worked for seven years with the International Gorilla Conservation Programme focused on the conservation of mountain gorillas. In the years to follow, he dedicated much of his time to teaching at several institutions in eastern DRC where he founded Primate Expertise in 2013. This NGO dedicated to primate conservation focuses on education, research, and outreach initiatives, working closely with local communities and cultivating a new generation of Congolese primatologists. He was also a committed member of the IPS conservation committee since 2018, reviewing conservation grants, applications to the Galante Family Winery Conservation Scholarship and helping us select globally outstanding young career primatologists to attend our Pre-congress Training Program (PCTP) and IPS congresses.

Augustin was an inspiring mentor to many, a wonderful colleague, collaborator and human being. His smile, his good energy and his commitment and passion for community-based conservation and primate research were contagious and inspiring, surely leaving behind an indelible legacy. He was awarded the national ‘Prix Patriote en Or, Diplôme de Mérite’ (‘Golden patriot’) in 2024, a great honour and a well deserved recognition of all his efforts in promoting a culture of excellence and his imparting knowledge and passion onto others, especially in his home country of DRC.

We will miss Augustin Basabose dearly and we are extremely grateful for all that he has done for others and our fellow primates.

26/06/2025

The IJP event at IPS Madagascar is about the potential for registered reports in primatology. In addition to the benefits to science, registered reports would allow us to provide review before a study, and help to avoid the distressing situation where primatologists put an enormous amount of work into a study that cannot address the question they want to address, and in some cases does not produce any useful data at all. The aim of the roundtable is to get primatologists talking about this. International Primatological Society https://ipsmadagascar.org

25/06/2025

The IPS EDEI committee has put together some Conference tips for first timers with lots of great guidance on how to navigate your first conference. These are available in English, en Français, and en Español - please take a look and share them widely! Feedback is welcome!

The IPS EDEI committee has put together some Conference tips for first timers with lots of great guidance on how to navigate your first conference. These are available in English, en Français, and en Español – please take a look and share them widely! Feedback is also welcome!

25/06/2025

IPS is delighted to announce Professor Ronald E. Sánchez Porras as the recipient of the 2025 IPS Charles Southwick Award in recognition of his lifelong dedication, passion, and extraordinary contributions to conservation education in Costa Rica and beyond. His work led to the establishment of important reserves, including: Alberto Manuel Brenes Biological Reserve (1993); Dendrobates Communal Reserve (1996); Madre Verde Reserve (1998), and his work is ongoing in developing the first Municipal Urban Climate Park. Professor Ronald stands out for his dedication to citizen science, he serves as the volunteer advisor for the non-profit primate conservation organization Somos Congos (somoscongos.com). He founded the first Municipal Office in Costa Rica for the Management, Protection, and Conservation of Natural Resources in the canton of San Ramón. As the founder and leader of the Annual National Primate Count, Prof. Ronald established this citizen science initiative to improve community awareness of primate conservation, now in its fifth year. The Officers of the IPS thank Prof. Sánchez Porras for his incredible work and commitment to primate conservation education.

18/05/2025

In Peninsular Malaysia, we share our forests with 12 primate species. Seven of these species are endangered and one is critically endangered. There’s also the stump-tailed macaque (VU), Robinson’s banded langur (NT), white-thighed surili (NT), and Selangor silvery langur (NT).

These animals play a crucial role in keeping our ecosystems healthy. And yet, they are under serious threat.

- Habitat loss
- Forest fragmentation
- Roadkill
- Illegal wildlife trade
- Human-primate conflict

The survival of these species depends on stronger protection, responsible land use, and genuine support for conservation efforts.

On this World Endangered Species Day, let’s not forget that biodiversity is not just a statistic, but a responsibility.

25/04/2025

In 2025, the International Primatological Society created two awards to recognise individuals, projects, or field stations carrying out initiatives that seek to promote Ethics, and Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion within primatology.

In a moment when EDEI is under threat in various institutions and settings around the world, it is more urgent than ever to promote activities that can effectively lead to broadening the access to opportunities within our field. Furthermore, it is equally important to recognise and celebrate these efforts to improve EDEI within the field of primatology.

The selected awardee(s) will receive an IPS Ethics and/or DEI certificate(s) in recognition of their continued efforts.

Eligibility: Individuals, projects, labs, or field stations carrying out relevant Ethics or DEI initiatives. Examples include, but are not limited to: supporting range country researchers/students through skill sharing, networking opportunities and involvement in scientific outputs; community-led research and conservation; the establishment of Ethics and/or DEI guidelines for field sites/laboratories; mentorship of under-represented scientists within their countries and/or abroad; collaborating with local universities where field work is performed; diversifying languages and formats of research outputs to facilitate access by non-English speakers, etc.

How to apply: Both self-nominations and nominations from colleagues are welcome. Applicants should submit a letter stating their eligibility for the award or describing the nominee’s suitability for the award. The focus should be on past and current Ethics or DEI contributions. A copy of the applicant resume should also be included. Supporting letters from other individuals acquainted with the applicant’s work may be submitted as part of the nomination packet.

Send your application AS A SINGLE PDF DOCUMENT, named “LAST NAME, First name, EDEI AWARD.pdf” to: Susana Carvalho ([email protected])

When to apply: May 15, 2025
Results expected: June 2025, with winners and certificates presented at the IPS conference (July 2025)

20/04/2025

Charles Southwick Conservation Education Award nominations! Deadline May 21st!

If you know someone living in a primate habitat country that has made a significant contribution to formal and informal conservation education in their country - please nominate them for our Charles Southwick Conservation Education Award.

$1500 will be given directly to the recipient and $500 will be given in the recipient’s name to a project of their choosing in their community.

More info on how to apply 👇

https://internationalprimatologicalsociety.org/awards/southwick-award/ #:~:text=This%20award%20is%20dedicated%20to,conservation%20education%20in%20their%20countries.

15/04/2025

Ever wanted to make sure you can crush your nearest and dearest at games night.... 🤓🐒

Primates is an evolutionary board game where you can explore the evolution of more than 100 different primate species! The game is now available:
https://greenbutterflygames.com/products/primates-an-evolutionary-board-game

Players: 2-4 Ages: 14+ Time to Play: 45-90 minutes

Primates is an evolutionary board game where you can explore the evolution of more than 100 different primate species!This educational game is great for families as well as students of evolutionary biology, ecology, botany, and primatology.60 Second Review:https://www.youtube.com/shorts/U9l1gKPl2wU

06/04/2025

🚨 New IPS Ethics & Diversity, Equality, Inclusivity Award 🚨

Deadline for applications May 1st
More info https://internationalprimatologicalsociety.org/ips-ethics-diversity-equality-inclusivity-award/

In 2025, the International Primatological Society created two awards to recognise individuals, projects, or field stations carrying out initiatives that seek to promote Ethics, and Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion within primatology.

In a moment when EDEI is under threat in various institutions and settings around the world, it is more urgent than ever to promote activities that can effectively lead to broadening the access to opportunities within our field. Furthermore, it is equally important to recognise and celebrate these efforts to improve EDEI within the field of primatology.

The selected awardee(s) will receive an IPS Ethics and/or DEI certificate(s) in recognition of their continued efforts.

In 2025, the International Primatological Society created two awards to recognise individuals, projects, or field stations carrying out initiatives that seek to promote Ethics, and Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion within primatology.