THE PRO MURIQUI INSTITUTE
Our Mission
Founded in 2000 by Prof. Dr. Maurício Talebi, the ProMuriqui Institute is a Brazilian non-governmental organization dedicated to the long-term conservation and research of the critically endangered southern muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides) and the preservation of the Atlantic Forest. Our work integrates scientific research, environmental education, public policy engagement, and community-based conservation.
.png)
We are rooted in over 25 years of continuous primate monitoring, with a team composed of academic researchers affiliated with national and international universities, as well as long-term local collaborators who preserve vital ecological knowledge. In addition to land acquisition efforts to expand protected habitat, we offer responsible primate-watching experiences as a form of ethical ecotourism and environmental education.
The Institute actively contributes to strategic species action plans, partners with protected areas such as Carlos Botelho State Park, and supports volunteer training and cross-institutional exchange. We recently co-founded the Primate Anthrozoology Research Program (PARP), strengthening global dialogue on human–primate relations. Guided by principles of inclusive conservation and research, the ProMuriqui Institute seeks to safeguard biodiversity while fostering respectful coexistence.
Access our
Research
We recently presented our work at the 34th Conference of the International Society for Anthrozoology (ISAZ)!
Download a free copy of our research poster from the academic repository of the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. It offers a concise overview of 25 years of conservation, research, and impact.
THE PRO MURIQUI BOARD
Who We Are
Prof. Dr. Maurício Talebi
Founder & Secretary
Maurício is a leading Brazilian primatologist, biological anthropologist, veterinary, and university professor whose career has been dedicated to the study and protection of the critically endangered southern muriqui. With over two decades of field experience in the Atlantic Forest, he is recognized nationally and internationally for his contributions.
He is the idealizer and founder of the ProMuriqui Institute and serves as a professor at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP, Brazil), being an alumnus of the University of Cambridge (UK). In addition to his academic and NGO leadership roles, Prof. Dr. Talebi is a member of the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group and contributes to national conservation strategies. He also serves on the Environmental Chamber of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Brazil as a director.
Maurício is passionate about muriqui behavior and phenology, studying, among others, the intimate rhythms between forest cycles and primate lives.
Dr. Gabriela Daly
Vice-President
Gabriela works across disciplines and sectors, bridging academia, business, and NGOs. She has studied and conducted research in nine countries across five continents. At the ProMuriqui Institute, she oversees compliance, internationalization, research design, and impact efforts.
In academia, she is affiliated with the Wild Minds Lab at the University of St Andrews (UK) and the Laboratory of Ecology and Nature Conservation (LECON) at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP, Brazil). In 2018, she received an honorable mention in the PSL International Dissertation Prize, in recognition of her interdisciplinary trajectory. She is an alumna of the École Normale Supérieure (Paris, France) and an international collaborator with research groups in France and Japan. In the business sphere, Gabriela was certified as an Academic Ambassador for Industry Engagement by the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance (SULSA) and founded a U.S.-based company.
In addition, she serves as a member of the Working Group on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Brazilian Primatology Society. Gabriela’s research explores how humans and primates interact in shared environments. Recently, her work has expanded to include decolonial approaches to conservation and the relationships between social innovation, social businesses, and Indigenous peoples—especially in the context of environmental licensing.
Gabriela’s most notable feature is, perhaps, knowing how to speak chimpanzee.
Emanuely Silva
Treasurer
Emanuely is an undergraduate student in Environmental Sciences at the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), driven by a passion for biodiversity conservation and the role of innovation in addressing socio-environmental challenges.
She has experience in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) consulting, sustainability, and environmental education, with a particular interest in how emerging technologies—such as artificial intelligence—can enhance conservation efforts. Her academic path includes participation in research projects, technical field visits, and outreach initiatives that connect environmental protection with community engagement.
Moreover, she serves as a climate action advisor and national coordinator, developing campaigns and strategies focused on climate justice at local, national, and international levels (at another Brazilian NGO). Her work combines science communication, grassroots activism, and youth leadership.
She is currently affiliated with the Laboratory of Ecology and Nature Conservation (LECON) at UNIFESP, where she collaborates on research involving primate cognition, communication, and behavior. Her work integrates science, sustainability, and inclusion, with a focus on building transformative and systemic solutions for the future.
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGY
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
OUR RESEARCH PROGRAM
The ProMuriqui Institute recently joined an international and cojoint research effort that builds upon and expands our areas of research.
The Primate Anthrozoology Research Program (PARP)
The Primate Anthrozoology Research Program (PARP) is a transdisciplinary initiative dedicated to the study of primate behavior, cognition, communication, culture, and conservation across human and nonhuman species. Bridging observational and experimental approaches, PARP draws from social anthropology, primatology, cognitive sciences, anthropology of science, and studies of environmental governance. It explores both interspecific interactions and species-specific phenomena, with a particular focus on chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes), southern muriquis (Brachyteles arachnoides), and humans. The program is structured into five interconnected subprograms and is supported by the following partners:
SUBPROGRAMS
PARP–Cognition
Explores primate cognitive processes through experimental and observational research, as well as philosophical and sociocultural perspectives that interrogate dominant models of mind, intelligence, and interspecies subjectivity.
PARP–Communication
Examines vocal, gestural, and multimodal exchanges among humans and nonhuman primates, investigating how communication shapes social life within and across species and expresses the relational foundations of hierarchy, affiliation, and belonging.
PARP–Culture
& Encounters
Investigates socially transmitted behaviors and interspecies relations, drawing on ethnographic and ethological approaches to question the nature–culture divide and explore human and nonhuman-primate coexistence.
PARP–Conservation
Addresses conservation through decolonial approaches that engage critically with governmental policies, NGO practices, and corporate involvement in conservation governance.
PARP–Ecology, Genetics & Evolution
Explores the biological and evolutionary foundations of primate life, including phenological patterns, genetic diversity in fragmented habitats, and gene–culture coevolution.
WE SUPPORT DORA
The ProMuriqui Institute is proud to support the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA).
We are committed to fair, inclusive, and responsible evaluation of research. As a science-based conservation NGO, we recognize that the value of scholarly work cannot be reduced to journal impact factors or citation counts. Our assessments prioritize research quality, societal impact, open access, and collaboration across sectors.
We encourage funders, institutions, and partners to join us in fostering a more equitable and meaningful approach to research evaluation.
