Nocturnal Primate Research Group (NPRG)

About us

Established in 1993, the Nocturnal Primate Research Group (NPRG) provides an international forum for coordination of research on nocturnal primates. Research involves nocturnal and cathemeral [day-and-night active] primates from South America, Africa, Madagascar and Asia, using innovative techniques.

We operate long-term field studies in Madagascar and in Java, Indonesia with associated conservation initiatives, including the Slow Loris Charity. The NPRG has developed a widespread network of collaborative links with academic institutions, conservation NGOs, enforcement agencies, wildlife societies, zoological museums and zoos.

Thick-tailed galago in South Africa

Part of

Related courses

Primate Conservation (MSc / PGDip / PGCert)
Primatology and Conservation (MRes / PGCert)

Research impact

We help to determine the distribution and status of some of the most neglected species and to indicate the condition of declining habitats. We have named six new species and elevated several others from subspecific status. Our work on Asian lorises via the Little Fireface Project has led to important legislative changes regarding the keeping of lorises as pets, managing them in captivity, and improving international awareness of illegal trade.

Our library of sounds has helped researchers identify galago species across Africa. Our innovative conservation education programmes have helped to inspire youth in Madagascar and Asia to conserve nocturnal primates. Our work regularly appears in the media, including major BBC documentaries.

Membership

Name	Role	Email
Professor Simon Bearder	Emeritus Professor	skbearder@brookes.ac.uk
Professor Giuseppe Donati	Professor in Biological Anthropology	gdonati@brookes.ac.uk
Professor Vincent Nijman	Professor in Anthropology	vnijman@brookes.ac.uk
Dr Magdalena Svensson	MSc Primate Conservation Lecturer and Laboratory Technician	m.svensson@brookes.ac.uk

Name	Thesis Title	Supervisors	Completed
Dr Michela Balestri	Ecology and conservation of the southern woolly lemur (Avahi meridionalis) in the Tsitongambarika Protected Area, south-eastern Madagascar	Professor Giuseppe Donati	2018
Dr Marco Campera	Ecological flexibilty and conservation of Fleurette's sportive lemur, Lepilemur fleureatae, in the lowland rainforest of Ampasy, Tsitongambarika Protected Area	Professor Giuseppe Donati, Professor Vincent Nijman	2018
Claire Cardinal	Lemur-human coexistence: the impact of human activities on the behaviour and demography of cathemeral lemurs in south-eastern Madagascar	Professor Catherine (Kate) Hill, Professor Giuseppe Donati	Active
Sophie Manson	Quantifying the ecosystem services provided by vertebrates within an agroforest environment in Java, Indonesia	Professor Vincent Nijman	Active
Thais Morcatty	A multilateral approach to tackling wildlife trade in South America: people, ecology and conservation Supervisors	Dr Magdalena Svensson, Professor Vincent Nijman	Active
Brittany Rapone	Cultural Influences Behind Exotic Pet Cafés in Japan and their Relation to the International Pet Trade	Dr Jason Danely	Active
Bethany Watkins	Beneath the moon and under the sun: what the navigational strategies of Eulemur collaris can tell us about the evolution of higher cognition	Professor Giuseppe Donati, Dr Magdalena Svensson	Active

Name	Role	Organisation
Dr Sam Shanee	Coordinator	Neotropical Primate Conservation

Projects

Completed projects

Project title and description	Investigator(s)	Funder(s)	Dates
Wildlife Friendly Coffee Working with a cooperative of farmers in West Java, we are investigating the economic and ecological impacts of Wildlife FriendlyTM coffee on the conservation of the Critically Endangered Javan slow loris, and the well-being of local people.		Oxford Brookes University, PTES, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Twycross Zoo	From: September 2018 Until: June 2022

Key publications

Nekaris KAI, Nijman V 2022. A new genus name for pygmy lorises, Xanthonycticebus gen. nov.(Mammalia, Primates). Zoosystematics & Evolution 98 (1) 87-92
Svensson MS, Morcatty TQ, Nijman V, Shepherd CR 2022. The next exotic pet to go viral Is social media causing an increase in the demand of owning bushbabies as pets? The Italian Journal of Mammalogy 33 (1), 51-57
Račevska E, Hill CM, Longosoa HT, Donati G 2022. People, lemurs and utilitarian plants of the littoral forests in southeast Madagascar. International Journal of Primatology 43 (6), 1000-1025.
Hyde Roberts S, Rossizela RJ, Longosoa TH, Strang K, Chmurova L, et al. 2021. Population dynamics of nocturnal lemurs in littoral forest fragments: the importance of long-term monitoring. International Journal of Primatology 42 (6), 833-858.
Svensson MS, Bersacola E, Mills MS, Munds RA, Nijman V, et al. 2017. A giant among dwarfs: a new species of galago (Primates: Galagidae) from Angola. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 163 (1), 30-43.