Conclusion: Twenty-First-Century Primatology

The future of primatology requires embracing the idea of “shared space” (Lee, 2010) and developing solutions for mutually respectful coexistence. With a growing human population, increasing demands for natural resources, and continued fragmentation of traditional habitats, primates across their range face the challenge of surviving in human-dominated ecosystems. In many cases, their survival within human-dominated and human-managed environments is contingent on human stewardship to protect their populations and manage their welfare. Finding ways to make these relationships work for all species involved is vital both for their welfare and for ours. The futures of human and nonhuman primates are intertwined, and for primatologists, the challenge is in articulating to our fellow humans the need to value, protect, and manage relationships with our distant relatives.