Discovery of Miller's Grizzled Langur (Presbytis hosei canicrus) in Wehea Forest Confirms the Continued Existence and Extends Known Geographical Range of an Endangered Primate |
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Authors: | STANISLAV LHOTA BRENT LOKEN STEPHANIE SPEHAR ERIC FELL ALEXANDR POSPĚCH NUNUK KASYANTO |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, ?eské Budějovicee, , Czech Republic;2. ústí nad Labem Zoo, ústí nad Labem, , Czech Republic;3. School of Resource and Environmental Management, Simon Fraser University, , Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada;4. Ethical Expeditions, , Gig Harbor, Washington;5. Anthropology Department, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, , Oshkosh, Wisconsin;6. Wolf Springs Reserve, White Carpathians, , Vyskovec, Czech Republic;7. Badan Pengelola Hutan Lindung Wehea, , Sangatta, Kalimantan Timur, Indonesia |
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Abstract: | Miller's Grizzled Langur (Presbytis hosei canicrus) is one of the least known and rarest primates in Borneo. With a limited geographic range along the central coast of East Kalimantan and the highly degraded Kutai National Park, its former stronghold, this subspecies is now extremely rare and has been listed as one of the world's 25 most endangered primates. From June 6 to August 2, 2011, we carried out both direct observation and camera trap surveys at two mineral springs (sepans) in the Wehea Forest, East Kutai district, East Kalimantan. Presbytis hosei canicrus was observed at the large sepan on 3 of 6 observation days and at the small sepan on 2 of 3 observation days with up to 11 individuals observed in a single day at a single site. Camera traps recorded a per day capture rate of 0.72 at the small sepan and 0.25 at the large sepan and a per photo capture rate of 0.50 and 0.005, respectively. These data suggest relatively frequent occurrence of P. h. canicrus at the sepans, but the langurs are rarely encountered elsewhere in the Wehea Forest. The discovery of P. h. canicrus in the Wehea Forest confirms the continued existence of this endangered primate and is the first solid evidence demonstrating that its geographic range extends further inland than previously thought. It is not known whether the population of P. h. canicrus within Wehea Forest is large and stable enough to be considered viable, but it is likely part of a larger population that may possibly occur across surrounding protected forests and logging concessions. Surveying this potentially large population, and securing its protection, should be a priority measure for ensuring the continued existence of P. h. canicrus. |
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Keywords: | Presbytis hosei canicrus East Kalimantan camera trap survey sepan Wehea Forest |
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