Ethnoprimatology

Ethnoprimatology is the study of human and non-human primate interactions. Ethnoprimatology is a discourse aimed at a anthropological holistic understanding of non-human primates. Human cultures worldwide have deep-rooted, primordial connections with non-human primates. Non-human primates play key roles in creation stories of many societies and often depict the direct relationship between non-human primates and humans.

In primatology the interface between humans and other primates is generally described as competition for space and resources, a contest between humans and other primates. While competition does occur, it is a very incomplete description of the interface, and the co-ecologies, of humans and other primates. The emerging approach, termed ethnoprimatology, is explicit in its acknowledgment of the multifarious nature of the human–other primate interface (Fuentes and Wolfe 2002, Fuentes and Hockings 2010).

In the creation myths of Matsigenka mythology, humans were the first to inhabit the earth and they were slowly transformed into different animal species, starting with primates. At a party, Yavireri, the first shaman, transformed two groups of people into woolly monkeys and spider monkeys.

Another myth describing the origins of primate species is that of Yari and Osheto. Yari was a lazy shaman who imbibed hallucinogens and sang songs all day. He would borrow beans from his brother-in-law Osheto, a spider monkey, and eat them rather than harvest. Then he would return to Osheto requesting more, claiming his harvest failed to grow. When Osheto discovered this deceit, he punched Yari in the throat, causing it to become swollen, like that of a howler monkey. Yaniri was then transformed into a howler monkey as punishment.

In a similar story, two shamans on a failed quest to steal fire-making technology from an all-female group were transformed into primates. One of the shamans burned the hair off his face and in turn was transformed into the brown capuchin monkey. The other became intoxicated and fell head first into a woman’s toilet, and was transformed into a white-fronted capuchin.

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