On August 27th we celebrate Ibiti Day and Muriqui Day, the largest primate in the Americas and a critically endangered species. For Ibiti, the date has a special meaning: it was here that Muriqui House was born, an unprecedented project to preserve the northern muriqui (Brachyteles hypoxanthus).
It all started with the determination of Carlinhos Repetto, founder of Ibiti Projeto. Through reports from local residents, he knew that there were still muriquis living in Mata do Luna, an area threatened by deforestation. After a tireless search, Carlinhos managed to make the first photographic record of a northern muriqui in the region in 2002, confirming its occurrence.
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Destiny transformed
"I'd been looking for this monkey for years," recalls Carlinhos. "This record was very important. It's on the back cover of the first book 'Reserva do Ibitipoca'. The photo of the monkey on the cover is by Araquém (Alcântara). When you open the book, there's a large black and white photo of the monkey, which was the first photographic record."
At the time, Carlinhos found trees in full bloom with muricis, the monkeys' food, marked for felling. He went to the owner of the area and, with the support of his cousin Renato Machado, one of the creators of Ibiti, managed to buy Mata do Luna. This gesture was decisive: it guaranteed the preservation of the forest and started a conservation project that still resonates today.
"It all started there," says Carlinhos. "I shouted from the rooftops that it had to be preserved." And so the story of protecting the muriquis in Ibiti was born.
Today, four decades on, the fight for the muriqui's survival continues. The Ibiti Project continues with its regeneration and conservation actions, with unprecedented initiatives such as the Muriqui House project, developed in partnership with the Muriqui Biodiversity Institute - MIB. A historic step to guarantee the future of the species.
Celebrating Muriqui Day is above all celebrating the courage and vision of those who believed that preserving nature can transform destinies.
