The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) is dedicated to building evidence for conservaton globally by publishing peer-reviewed artcles OPEN ACCESS online every month at a reasonably rapid rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org. All artcles published in JoTT are registered under Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License unless otherwise mentoned. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of artcles in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton.

Journal of Threatened Taxa Building evidence for conservaton globally www.threatenedtaxa.org ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) Communication

Population assessment of the endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolock Harlan, 1834 at Sheikh Jamal Inani National Park, Bangladesh, and conservation significance of this site for threatened wildlife species

M. Tarik Kabir, M. Farid Ahsan, Susan M. Cheyne, Shahrul Anuar Mohd Sah, Susan Lappan, Thad Q. Bartlet & Nadine Ruppert

26 June 2021 | Vol. 13 | No. 7 | Pages: 18687–18694 DOI: 10.11609/jot.7207.13.7.18687-18694

For Focus, Scope, Aims, and Policies, visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/aims_scope For Artcle Submission Guidelines, visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/about/submissions For Policies against Scientfc Misconduct, visit htps://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/policies_various For reprints, contact

The opinions expressed by the authors do not refect the views of the Journal of Threatened Taxa, Wildlife Informaton Liaison Development Society, Zoo Outreach Organizaton, or any of the partners. The journal, the publisher, the host, and the part- Publisher & Host ners are not responsible for the accuracy of the politcal boundaries shown in the maps by the authors.

Threatened Taxa

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 June 2021 | 13(7): 18687–18694 ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) OPEN ACCESS htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.7207.13.7.18687-18694

#7207 | Received 22 February 2021 | Final received 27 May 2021 | Finally accepted 30 May 2021

COMMUNICATION

Populaton assessment of the endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolock Harlan, 1834 at Sheikh Jamal Inani Natonal Park, Bangladesh, and conservaton signifcance of this site for threatened wildlife species

M. Tarik Kabir 1 , M. Farid Ahsan 2 , Susan M. Cheyne 3 , Shahrul Anuar Mohd Sah 4 , Susan Lappan 5 , Thad Q. Bartlet 6 & Nadine Ruppert 7

1,4,5,7 School of Biological Sciences, Universit Sains Malaysia, 11800 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. 2 Department of Zoology, University of Chitagong, Chatogram, Bangladesh. 3 Department of Social Science, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, GB, United Kingdom. 5 Department of Anthropology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, United States of America. 6 Department of Anthropology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, 6900 North Loop 1604 West, San Antonio, TX 78249, United States of America. 1,2,3,5,6,7 IUCN SSC PSG Secton on Small Apes. 1 [email protected], 2 [email protected], 3 [email protected], 4 [email protected], 5 [email protected], 6 [email protected], 7 [email protected] (corresponding author)

Abstract: Sheikh Jamal Inani Natonal Park (Inani) is a wildlife habitat in Bangladesh located under the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division, Cox’s Bazar. It consttutes signifcant habitat for the charismatc and globally ‘Endangered’ Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolock in Bangladesh. Here, we show that Inani is a poorly-known gibbon habitat with a populaton of seven groups, comprising a total of 18 individuals. Among them, 77.8% were adults (males and females), and 11.1%, 5.6%, and 5.6% were sub-adults, juveniles, and infants, respectvely, indicatng low reproductve output. Five of seven groups had no ofspring present in the group, and the mean group size of 2.57 individuals/group is low compared to other habitats in Bangladesh. Beside Western Hoolock Gibbon, Inani is home to many threatened wildlife species. The frst record of the Slaty-backed Flycatcher Ficedula erithacus in Bangladesh occurred in Inani, adding this new species to the natonal bird checklist of Bangladesh. The presence of the globally ‘Endangered’ Asian Elephant Elephas maximus, Phayre’s Langur Trachypithecus phayrei, & Elongated Tortoise Indotestudo elongata and the globally ‘Vulnerable’ Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina, Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus, Indian Leopard Panthera pardus, & Asiatc Sofshell Turtle Amyda cartlaginea highlight the importance of Inani as a conservaton area in Bangladesh. The Western Hoolock Gibbon and other threatened wildlife of Inani are now on the verge of local extncton due to a sharp increase in forest resource extracton resultng from the recent infux of large numbers of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, many of whom have setled around Inani. Through stakeholder interviews in the area, we have identfed feasible and measurable conservaton actons at Inani that are urgently needed to prevent further loss of wildlife and to protect this important gibbon habitat.

Keywords: Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division, Rohingya, Slaty-backed Flycatcher.

Editor: Honnavalli N. Kumara, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History, Coimbatore, India. Date of publicaton: 26 June 2021 (online & print)

Citaton: Kabir, M.T., M.F. Ahsan, S.M. Cheyne, S.A.M. Sah, S. Lappan, T.Q. Bartlet & N. Ruppert (2021). Populaton assessment of the endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolock Harlan, 1834 at Sheikh Jamal Inani Natonal Park, Bangladesh, and conservaton signifcance of this site for threatened wildlife species. Journal of Threatened Taxa 13(7): 18687–18694. htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.7207.13.7.18687-18694

Copyright: © Kabir et al. 2021. Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of this artcle in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton.

Funding: This study was funded by the IUCN Secton on Small Apes, Gibbon Conservaton Alliance, Wildlife Conservaton Network, Internatonal Primatological Society as the Galante Family Winery Conservaton Scholarship, Global Wildlife Conservaton: Primate Acton Fund (Grant Number: 5385.006-0318) and Ruford Foundaton Small Grant (Grant Number: 33003-01) through the Malaysian Primatological Society.

Competng interests: The authors declare no competng interests.

For Author details, Author contributons and Acknowledgements see end of this artcle.

18687 J TT Populaton assessment of Western Hoolock Gibbon at Sheikh Jamal Inani NP Kabir et al.

INTRODUCTION © M. Tarik Kabir

Sheikh Jamal Inani Natonal Park (short: Inani) is the southern-most natural, although heavily degraded, forest in Bangladesh. It was previously known as Inani Reserved Forest, and was declared a Natonal Park in 2019 by the Bangladesh Government. Inani includes the last remnants of degraded natural forest in Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division and supports many globally threatened wildlife species (Kabir et al. 2014, 2015, 2017). These forests also form a wildlife corridor between Myanmar and Bangladesh that is recognized in Bangladesh as a prominent Asian Elephant corridor (IUCN Bangladesh 2018). Rohingya refugees are defned by the People’s Republic of Bangladesh as ‘forcibly-displaced Myanmar natonals’ (UNDP Bangladesh and UN WOMEN Bangladesh 2018). About a million Rohingya refugees have setled in Bangladesh in successive waves of displacement since the early 1990s (htps://www.unhcr.org/rohingya-emergency. Image 1. Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolock html), of which 716,915 are new arrivals since 25 August 2017 (htps://data2.unhcr.org/en/situatons/myanmar_ refugees). They have setled at Ukhia and Teknaf upazila immediately to protect Western Hoolock Gibbon and (sub district) under the Cox’s Bazar District of Bangladesh. other threatened species at Inani. The majority of them have setled around or inside the Ukhia Reserved Forest, Sheikh Jamal Inani Natonal Park, and Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary, administered by the MATERIALS AND METHODS Bangladesh Government and UNHCR. Makeshif camps and fuel-wood collecton have had signifcant impacts Study Area on forested areas, resultng in forest degradaton and The Sheikh Jamal Inani Natonal Park (21.226642 N habitat loss, wildlife habitat fragmentaton, loss of wildlife and 092.081416 E) covers an area of 7085.16 ha of hill corridors, and an increase in elephant-human confict forest in the Inani Forest Range under the Cox’s Bazar (UNDP Bangladesh and UN WOMEN Bangladesh 2018). South Forest Division of Cox’s Bazar District of Bangladesh. Several recent publicatons over the last 12 years It is bordered by the Himchhari Natonal Park in the north, describe wildlife diversity and conservaton in Inani (e.g., Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary in the south, Ukhia Reserved Akhter et al. 2009; Ahmed et al. 2011; Rahman & Mannan Forest in the east, and the Bay of Bengal in the west. 2011; Kabir et al. 2014, 2015, 2017; Haidar et al. 2017). The vegetaton of Inani is mixed-evergreen forest Drastcally decreasing habitat quality at Inani due to dominated by degraded secondary forests. Major forest loss and other threats, such as encroachment and tree species are Garjan Dipterocarpus spp., Chapalish extracton of forest products by nearby local and Rohingya Artocarpus chama, Chundul Tetrameles nudifora, Civit communites, however, are driving the Western Hoolock Swintonia foribunda, Telsur Hopea odorata, Shimul Gibbon, as well as other wildlife species, to the brink of Bombax spp., Pitraj Aphanamixis polystachya, Koroi local extncton. Albizia spp., Bandorholla Duabhanga grandifora, Jam No recent informaton has been published on the Syzygium spp., Rata Amoora wallichii, Nageshwar Mesua populaton status of Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock ferrea, Uri-am Magnifera longipes, Bhadi/Jiol Lannea hoolock Harlan, 1834 at this site (Image 1). New coromandelica, Jarul Lagerstroemia spp., Gamar Gmelia informaton is provided in this paper on the populaton arborea, Figs Ficus spp., and Ajuli Dillenia pentagyna status of Western Hoolock Gibbons at Inani, and we (Kabir 2012). report the occurrence of other globally threatened The compositon of the undergrowth, including wildlife species, indicatng the value of the site. Through bamboos, varies considerably from place to place. stakeholder interviews in the area, we identfed in situ The most common species are Mulibansh Melocanna conservaton initatves that should be undertaken bambusoides, Mitnga Bambusa tulda, Ground Orchid

18688 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 June 2021 | 13(7): 18687–18694 Populaton assessment of Western Hoolock Gibbon at Sheikh Jamal Inani NP Kabir et al. J TT Geodorum spp., Galla Bet Daemonorops jenkinsianus, direct visual observatons during feld trips from January and Bet Calamus spp.. There is an abundance of creepers, 2013 to January 2021. lianas, and epiphytes, including Tinospora cordifolia, Vits Threat assessment was conducted through direct spp., Spatholobus roxburghii, Entada pursaetha, Derris feld observatons and feasible conservaton measures spp., Ipomoea spp., Passifora spp., Oberonia spp., and were identfed in discussions with focus groups, including others. forest-dependent people, nearby communites and villagers, community patrol groups, local community Methods leaders and other relevant stakeholders, such as forest Western Hoolock Gibbon habitats in Bangladesh department staf (BOBLME 2013; Alam et al. 2014). Three consist only of small habitat fragments, in contrast to the focus-group discussions (FGD) were conducted with the larger, more contnuous habitats of the species in other partcipants at Boro Inani, Patuartake, and Swankhali countries (Ahsan 1994; Geissmann et al. 2013; Ray et between March and June 2018. There were 10–12 al. 2015). A gibbon populaton census was conducted partcipants in each FGD. Partcipants were selected in by the total-count method and groups were detected consultaton with the local forest department and village at established listening posts (following Brockelman & headmen. Predefned questonnaires were completed to Ali 1987; Cheyne et al. 2007; Brockelman et al. 2009). assess the perceived impact of the huge Rohingya infux One observer sat at one listening post carefully notng to Inani and to identfy possible conservaton measures the singing tmes and duratons of singing bouts of to save the wildlife at Inani, including its Western Hoolock gibbon pairs, taking compass bearings, and estmatng Gibbons (Alam et al. 2014). the distance from the singing pair to the listening post. Upon visual encounters, observer(s) assessed the group compositon. Adult males, adult females, subadult males, RESULTS subadult females, juveniles, and infants were estmated on the basis of the body size and coat colour (Kakat et al. Seven groups of Western Hoolock Gibbons consistng 2009), and behavioral patern (Ahsan 1994). Groups were of 18 individuals were confrmed to reside in Sheikh Jamal distnguished by locaton, group compositon and distance Inani Natonal Park during the study period (Table 1). between groups, and all groups identfed were given a Six groups were reported from Inani Forest Beat (local distnct identfcaton number for long-term monitoring. administraton unit of Bangladesh Forest Department) Gibbon groups were monitored from January 2017 to and one from Swankhali Forest Beat (Inani Forest Range). January 2021 to confrm group compositons. Gibbon Only two of these groups (Groups 3 and 4) showed populaton monitoring was conducted from early morning evidence of reproducton during the study period, to early afernoon (0600 to 1400 h) for a period of four including an adult pair with a subadult and an infant, and consecutve days/month from October to April during the an adult pair with a subadult and a juvenile (Table 1). The monitoring period. The occurrence of other threatened mean group size was 2.57 individuals (n= 7). Synchronous wildlife species was confrmed opportunistcally through singing by Groups 1, 2, 3, & 4 was heard at least twice,

Table 1. Group sizes and compositon of Western Hoolock Gibbons at Shekih Jamal Inani Natonal Park, Bangladesh in January 2021.

Group Total Forest jurisdicton Area number Group compositon individuals AM AF SaM SaF Ju In

Inani Range Inani Beat 1 1 1 - - - - 2

Inani Range Inani Beat 2 1 1 - - - - 2

Inani Range Inani Beat 3 1 1 1 - - 1 4

Inani Range Inani Beat 4 1 1 1 1 - 4

Inani Range Inani Beat 5 1 1 - - - - 2

Inani Range Inani Beat 6 1 1 - - - - 2

Inani Range Swankhali Beat 7 1 1 - - - - 2

Total 7 7 1 1 1 1 18

*AM—Adult male | AF—Adult female | SaM—Sub-adult male | SaF—Sub-adult female | Ju—Juvenile | In—Infant.

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 June 2021 | 13(7): 18687–18694 18689 J TT Populaton assessment of Western Hoolock Gibbon at Sheikh Jamal Inani NP Kabir et al.

Figure 1. Sheikh Jamal Inani Natonal Park. Top lef: satellite image with proposed conservaton core area (red area). Top right: IUCN distributon map of Hoolock hoolock. Botom: Sheikh Jamal Inani Natonal Park (blue outline) with proposed conservaton core area (red circle). (Sources: top lef: Google Earth; top right: www.iucnredlist.org; botom: UNDP Bangladesh and UN WOMEN Bangladesh 2018)

18690 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 June 2021 | 13(7): 18687–18694 Populaton assessment of Western Hoolock Gibbon at Sheikh Jamal Inani NP Kabir et al. J TT which indicates that they were separate groups. The area impacts on wildlife and habitat quality resultng from inhabited by Groups 1–4 is considered as the core area the infux of refugees, the gibbon habitat in Inani has for immediate conservaton acton (Figure 1). Groups also been destroyed and degraded by illegal resource 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, & 7 were frst observed in 2014 during an harvestng and encroachment by local communites and opportunistc wildlife survey at Inani and at that tme, forest-dependent people. Local communites collect the each group consisted of only an adult male and female. stems of saplings of various tree species and use them Group 3 produced an ofspring in early 2015 and again in as poles for their betel-leaf vineyards. The interviewees January 2021. stated that they think that habitat destructon and Inani is a signifcant habitat for many globally degradaton may be mitgated through regular patrolling threatened wildlife species, which also require immediate of the forest department and with direct involvement of conservaton initatves. The presence of the Indian the local community, more dialogue among policy makers Leopard Panthera pardus fusca in Cox’s Bazar District and the forest-living people, and an extensive habitat of Bangladesh was frst confrmed in 2014 in the core restoraton programme. gibbon habitat of Inani (Kabir et al. 2017), with additonal sightngs in 2017 and 2018 (M. Tarik Kabir, pers. obs. 2017 & 2018). During the gibbon surveys, we also made the DISCUSSION frst observatons of the Slaty-backed Flycatcher Ficedula erithacus in Bangladesh (Image 2). It was identfed by The Western Hoolock Gibbon is a ‘Critcally its orange underparts, deep blue upperparts and black Endangered’ species in Bangladesh (IUCN Bangladesh tail with white base in males (Image 2). This species was 2015) and an ‘Endangered’ species globally (Brockelman previously reported as having a global distributon in et al. 2019). About 282 individuals were reported in Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam, Bangladesh in surveys over a decade ago (Islam et al. and Thailand (BirdLife Internatonal 2016) and now we 2006). Islam et al. (2006) observed two groups of gibbons confrm that its range extends into Bangladesh. It was frst in the Inani Range and fve in the Ukhia Range during eight- sighted in January 2014 in an area dominated by shrubs day (Inani) and nine-day (Ukhia) survey periods. Based on and homestead vegetaton near human habitatons and our survey results, it seems likely that Inani supported a was sighted again at the same place in February 2016. larger gibbon populaton during the 2003–2004 survey The globally ‘Endangered’ Asian Elephant Elephas period, and that not all gibbon groups were observed maximus, Phayre’s Langur Trachypithecus phayrei, within the short survey period. Moreover, at that tme, & Elongated Tortoise Indotestudo elongata and the the habitat quality was much beter than presently, but ‘Vulnerable’ Capped Langur Trachypithecus pileatus, gibbons have now become locally extnct in Ukhia (M. Northern Pig-tailed Macaque Macaca leonina, Indian Tarik Kabir, pers. obs. 2020). Leopard Panthera pardus, & Asiatc Sofshell Turtle It was revealed in this study that Sheikh Jamal Inani Amyda cartlaginea were also observed in the core gibbon Natonal Park supports the fourth largest populaton habitat of Inani. of Western Hoolock Gibbons in Bangladesh, afer the IUCN Bangladesh (2018) has estmated that the larger populatons in Lawachara Natonal Park, Adampur total populaton of elephants in the fve forest ranges Reserved Forest, and Kaptai Natonal Park (Islam et al. of the Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division includes only 2006). Ahsan (2001) reported that the mean group size 38 individuals (31–45). Elephants are now isolated in of Western Hoolock Gibbons was 3.0 (n= 8) at West Inani, Ukhia, Shilkhali, Whykheong, and Teknaf forest Bhanugach in northeastern Bangladesh, whereas Feeroz ranges due to the blocking of the Ukhia-Ghundhum & Islam (1992) estmated a mean group size of 3.17 (n= 6) Elephant Corridor by Rohingya setlements since 2017 in the same area. Comparison between group sizes in Inani (Irfanullah 2018). Focus-group discussions with the and other habitats suggest a lower reproductve output relevant stakeholders showed that elephant-human at Inani. Loss of adequate food sources and changes in interacton has dramatcally increased at Inani, in the the habitat structures have led to low encounter rates area of Mohammad Shafr Beel, afer the recent infux of and small group sizes at the fragmented Western Hoolock Rohingya refugees who live around the forest and collect Gibbon habitats in eastern Assam, India (Kakat et al. frewood and other forest resources on an unsustainable 2009). Low populaton densites have also been reported level. The interviewees also agreed that the wildlife among primates in Mexico and Brazil due to reduced food habitat of Inani will vanish in a short period of tme if the resources and habitat fragmentaton (Estrada & Coates- current situaton is not mitgated. Beside the negatve Estrada 1996; Chiarello & Melo 2000). Gibbon habitat in

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 June 2021 | 13(7): 18687–18694 18691 J TT Populaton assessment of Western Hoolock Gibbon at Sheikh Jamal Inani NP Kabir et al.

A B

C D

E F Image 2. A—Slaty-backed Flycatcher Ficedula erithacus from Inani, the frst record of this species in Bangladesh | B—Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolock at Inani | C—Pugmark of Indian Leopard Panthera pardus at Inani | D—Phayre’s Leaf Monkey Trachypithecus phayrei at Inani | E—Fire wood collecton from gibbon habitat in Ukhia | F—Loss of gibbon habitat at Ukhia. © M. Tarik Kabir.

Inani is highly degraded and fragmented without upper unhcr.org/en/situatons/myanmar_refugees). canopy trees, which is likely the main reason for their Refugees have temporarily setled in the area low reproductve output. We suggest that an extensive by clearing forests on both sides of the Cox’s Bazar- habitat restoraton programme (Hossain et al. 2008) Teknaf highway, mostly residing in the fringes of Ukhia and the total protecton of gibbon habitats at Inani are Reserved Forest, Inani and Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary, required to ensure the survival of the gibbons in this area. which is increasing human-wildlife confict in the area Many globally threatened wildlife species, including (Irfanullah 2018). About 3,713 acres of forest land were the Western Hoolock Gibbon, are now on the verge of completely cleared to make Rohingya setlements in extncton at Inani due to sharply increased pressure on Ukhia, Whykheong, and Teknaf forest ranges in 2017 natural forest resources due to the recent infux of large (UNDP Bangladesh and UN WOMEN Bangladesh 2018). numbers of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar into the According to the Bangladesh Forest Department, an area. The total number of registered Rohingya refugees additonal 6,163 acres of forest land was damaged in the in Cox’s Bazar district is 866,457, according to the areas afected by Rohingya setlement, with no up-to- Bangladesh Government and UNHCR, of which 716,915 date informaton on the habitat status (ADB 2019). are new arrivals since 25 August 2017 (htps://data2. Deforestaton and forest fragmentaton, changes

18692 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 June 2021 | 13(7): 18687–18694 Populaton assessment of Western Hoolock Gibbon at Sheikh Jamal Inani NP Kabir et al. J TT in forest cover, biomass reducton, loss of species, loss should be strictly prohibited and wide public awareness of wildlife habitat, shrinkage of wildlife corridors and campaigns must be organized to develop a positve increased mortality risk for wildlife are expected to response among the forest-dependent people, especially result from the large infux of migrants into Inani (UNDP fuel and tmber wood collectors; Bangladesh and UN WOMEN, Bangladesh 2018). The area 3. Regular patrolling and habitat monitoring infuenced by Rohingya refugees is estmated to cover by the Forest Department should be conducted in 44% of the 60,000 ha landscape encompassing Sheikh partnership with community patrol groups, comprising Jamal Inani Natonal Park, Ukhia Forest Range and Teknaf community members and local leaders, to create a sense Wildlife Sanctuary (UNDP Bangladesh and UN WOMEN of stewardship and enhance protecton of forests as well Bangladesh 2018), putng enormous pressure on this as wildlife; landscape and the remaining forests. For example, an 4. Highly degraded areas identfed by the Forest estmated 6,800 tons of fuel wood is required each month Department should be rehabilitated and enriched by by the refugee populaton, of which approximately 50% extensive habitat restoraton programmes with natve is collected from the forests (UNDP Bangladesh and UN tree species, including important food items for gibbons; WOMEN Bangladesh 2018). Fortunately, the Rohingya 5. Alternatve and long-lastng poles for betel community does not hunt the gibbons. Liquefed vineyards should be provided by NGOs and the petroleum gas (LPG) and improved cooking stoves have Government of Bangladesh at reasonable prices to been distributed since August 2018 to Rohingya refugees prevent over-harvestng of tree saplings from the forest. and host communites to reduce the demand for frewood Extensive awareness programmes should be conducted from the nearby forest (IUCN Bangladesh 2019). Firewood to discourage the collecton of forest wood for poles; demand dropped by 79 % among the Rohingya families 6. Proper use of alternatve sources of fuel wood afer the LPG was provided (IUCN Bangladesh 2019), but for refugees should be ensured and regularly provided by small-scale fuel-wood collecton will contnue to pose concerned authorites; and huge pressure on natural resources at and around Inani. 7. General public educaton and awareness programs for diferent stakeholders should be implemented to help to manage the globally threatened RECOMMENDATIONS wildlife habitat of Bangladesh on a larger scale.

Western Hoolock Gibbons are likely to disappear REFERENCES from Sheikh Jamal Inani Natonal Park in the near future, if the current trend of habitat destructon contnues. ADB (2019). Assessment Report on Ecological Assessment of Some The presence of large Rohingya refugee setlements Selected Sites in UKhia and Teknaf, Cox’ Bazar, Bangladesh, Prepared by M. Monirul H. Khan, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 66pp. have created a critcal situaton that puts pressure on Ahmed, A., M.K. Hossain & A.T.M.R. Hoque (2011). People’s percepton threatened species. Management and conservaton by on depleton of forest resources in Ukhia and Teknaf by Rohingya the Bangladesh Forest Department of the whole of Inani is Refugees. Green University Review 2(2): 185-199. Ahsan, M.F. (1994). Behavioural ecology of the Hoolock Gibbon (Hylobates not possible due to socio-politcal issues and the pressure hoolock) in Bangladesh. Ph.D. Dissertaton. University of Cambridge, being placed on natural resources by people living around Cambridge, xxiv+446 pp. the forest. The Forest Department also has a shortage of Ahsan, M.F. (2001). Socio-ecology of the Hoolock Gibbon (Hylobates hoolock) in two forests of Bangladesh, pp. 286–299. In: Chicago manpower and other resources to protect the large forest Zoological Society (ed.). The Apes: Challenges for the 21st Century. area. Nonetheless, the following steps can be considered Brookfeld Zoo, May 10–13, 2000, Conference Proceedings. Chicago for protecton and management of the gibbon habitats of Zoological Society, Brookfeld, Illinois, U.S.A., viii+376pp. Akhter, M.S., S.I. Sohel & M.P.R.M. Alamgir (2009). Impact of forest Inani: and non-forest villagers on Ukhia and Inani forest Range under Cox’s 1. Community members are urged to take Bazar (South) Forest Division, Bangladesh. Proceedings of the Pakistan immediate acton to demarcate one designated area of Academy of Sciences 46(1): 13–22. Alam, S., K. Misbahuzzaman, M.A. Rahman & M.H. Kabir (2014). about 2,000 ha in the core gibbon habitat of Narikella Threats to the Teknaf Wildlife Sanctuary of Bangladesh. Journal of Jhuri-Bairuntali (21.229074N, 92.070104E) as a totally Environmental Science and Natural Resources 7(1): 233–239. protected zone. Regular monitoring and patrolling of BirdLife Internatonal (2016). Ficedula erithacus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22709334A94203430. Downloaded this zone should be prioritzed by the Bangladesh Forest on 07 January 2019. htps://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS. Department as extensive monitoring and patrolling to the T22709334A94203430.en BOBLME (2013). Marine Protected Areas in Bangladesh - a framework for whole Inani area is not possible; establishment and management. Dhaka, Bangladesh, 181pp. 2. Any resource harvestng from this core areas Brockelman, W.Y. & R. Ali (1987). Methods of surveying and sampling

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 June 2021 | 13(7): 18687–18694 18693 J TT Populaton assessment of Western Hoolock Gibbon at Sheikh Jamal Inani NP Kabir et al.

forest primate populatons, pp. 23-62. In: C.W. Marsh & R.A. Bangladesh. Hamadryad 37: 111–113. Mitermeier (eds.). Primate Conservaton in the Tropical Rain Forest, Kabir, M.T., M.F. Ahsan & A. Khatoon (2017). Occurrence and conservaton New York, xviii+365pp. of the Indian leopard (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae: Panthera pardus) Brockelman, W.Y., H. Naing, C. Saw, A. Moe, Z. Linn, T.K. Moe, & Z. Win in Cox’s Bazar District of Bangladesh. Journal of Threatened Taxa 9(6): (2009). Census of Eastern Hoolock Gibbons (Hoolock leuconedys) in 10320–10324. htps://doi.org/10.11609/jot.1898.9.6.10320-10324 Mahamyaing Wildlife Sanctuary, Sagaing Division, Myanmar, pp. 435– Kakat, K., R. Raghavan, R. Chellam, Q. Qureshi & D.J. Chivers (2009). 451. In: Lappan, S. & D. Whitaker. The Gibbons. Springer, New York, Status of Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) populatons in NY, XVIII+526pp. fragmented forests of eastern Assam. Primate Conservaton 24(1): Brockelman, W., S. Molur & T. Geissmann (2019). Hoolock hoolock. 127–137. htps://doi.org/10.1896/052.024.0111 The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T39876A17968083. Rahman, M.A. & A. Mannan (2011). Challenge of forest law enforcement Downloaded on 23 August 2020. htps://doi.org/10.2305/.UK.2019-3. in Bangladesh with special reference to proposed Inani Natonal Park. RLTS.T39876A17968083.en Proceedings of the First Bangladesh Forestry Congress 84–87pp. Cheyne, S.M., C.J.H. Thompson, A.C. Phillips R.M.C. Hill & S.H. Limin Ray, P.C., A. Kumar, A. Devi, M.C. Krishna, M.L. Khan & W.Y. Brockelman (2007). Density and populaton estmate of gibbons (Hylobates (2015). Habitat characteristcs and their efects on the density of groups albibarbis) in the Sabangau Catchment, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. of western hoolock gibbon (Hoolockhoolock) in Namdapha Natonal Primates 49: 50–56. htps://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-007-0063-0 Park, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Internatonal Journal of Primatology Chiarello, A.G. & F.R. de Melo (2001). Primate populaton densites and 36(3): 445–459. htps://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-015-9834-4 sizes in Atlantc forest remnants of northern Espirito Santo, Brazil. UNDP Bangladesh and UN WOMEN Bangladesh (2018). Report on Internatonal Journal of Primatology 22(3): 379–396. htps://doi. Environmental Impact of Rohingya Infux. Dhaka, Bangladesh, 106pp. org/10.1023/A:1010751527749 htps://www.unhcr.org/rohingya-emergency.html, accessed on 18 Estrada, A. & R. Coates-Estrada (1996). Tropical rain forest fragmentaton February 2021 and wild populatons of primates at Los Tuxtlas, Mexico. Internatonal htps://data2.unhcr.org/en/situatons/myanmar_refugees, accessed on Journal of Primatology 17(5): 759–783. htps://doi.org/10.1007/ 18 February 2021 BF02735263 Feeroz, M.M. & M.A. Islam (1992). Ecology and behaviour of Hoolock Gibbons of Bangladesh, MARC (Multdisciplinary Acton Research Centre), Dhaka, Bangladesh, 76pp. Author details: M. Tarik Kabir is PhD candidate of Universit Sains Malaysia and Geissmann, T., M.E. Grindley, Ngwe Lwin, Saw Soe Aung, Thet Naing a wildlife biologist in Bangladesh. His major interests are primate conservaton, Aung, Saw Blaw Htoo & F. Momberg (2013). The Conservaton Status community-based wildlife conservaton, and social behavior and ecology of of Hoolock Gibbons in Myanmar. Gibbon Conservaton Alliance, Zürich, gibbons. Dr. M. Farid Ahsan, Professor of Zoology at University of Chitagong, 157pp. Bangladesh, member of the IUCN Secton on Small Apes, and a Fellow of the Haidar, I.K.A., M.F. Ahsan, S. Abbas & M.T. Kabir (2017). Species diversity Zoological Society of Bangladesh. He teaches undergraduates and graduates and habitat preference of buterfies (Insecta: Lepidoptera) in Inani courses in wildlife biology and conservaton. His interest is in primate behaviour, ecology, and biodiversity conservaton, and creatng awareness about snakebites. Reserve Forest of Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. Journal of Insect Biodiversity Dr. Susan M. Cheyne is the Vice-Chair of the IUCN SSC PSG Secton on Small and Systematcs 3(1): 47–67. Apes and a Teaching Fellow at Oxford Brookes University. Her interests are in Hossain, M.K., M.K. Alam & M.D. Miah (2008). Forest restoraton and small ape conservaton in the wild, in captvity and in creatng opportunites for rehabilitaton in Bangladesh. Keep Asia Green 3: 21–66. these apes to return to the wild following capture to the illegal pet trade. Dr. Irfanullah, H.M. (2018). Elephant conservaton in Bangladesh-bringing Shahrul Anuar Mohd Sah is a Professor of Zoology at Universit Sains Malaysia. conservaton eforts and humanitarian responses together. Gajah 49: He has a long experience in teaching wildlife conservaton and management, 33–35. wildlife ecology, and animal behaviour. His research interests are partcularly in the feld of vertebrate biology, ecology and behaviour, and mainly focused on the Islam, M.A., M.M. Feeroz, S.B. Muzafar, M.M. Kabir & S. Begum (2006). populaton studies of small mammals, birds and herpetofauna. Dr. Susan Lappan Conservaton of the Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock): populaton is a behavioural ecologist with a primary interest in primate conservaton. She is estmates, habitat suitability and management optons. Report to an Associate Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences at Appalachian State United States, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington D.C. Mimeograph, University, USA, and a scientfc advisor for Malaysian Primatological Society. Dr. 48pp. Thad Q. Bartlett is a member of the IUCN Secton on Small Apes and Professor IUCN Bangladesh (2015). Red List of Bangladesh Volume 2: Mammals. of Anthropology at The University of Texas at San Antonio where he teaches IUCN, Internatonal Union for Conservaton of Nature, Bangladesh undergraduate and graduate courses in human nature, human origins, and primate behavior and ecology. His primary research focus is on gibbon socioecology. Dr. Country Ofce, Dhaka, Bangladesh, xvi+232pp. Nadine Ruppert is a zoologist focusing on primates, human-wildlife interactons, IUCN Bangladesh (2018). Survey report on Elephant Movement, Human- plant-animal interactons, and conservaton issues related to Malaysia. She is Elephant Confict Situaton, and Possible Interventon Sites in and a senior lecturer at Universit Sains Malaysia, vice president of the Malaysian around Kutupalong Camp, Cox’s Bazar. IUCN Bangladesh Country Primatological Society and member of the IUCN Secton on Small Apes. Ofce, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 27pp. IUCN Bangladesh (2019). Assessment report on Impact of LPG Distributon Author contributons: Research methodology and frst manuscript draf: Kabir, among the Rohingya and Host communites of Cox’s Bazar South Forest M.T. and Ruppert, N.; feld work: Kabir, M.T.; advisory role during feld work and manuscript correctons: Ahsan, M.F., Cheyne, S.M., Sah, S.A.M., Lappan, S. and Division on Forest Resources. IUCN Bangladesh Country Ofce, Dhaka, Bartlet, T.Q. Bangladesh, 38pp. Johns, A.D. & J.P. Skorupa (1987). Responses of rain-forest primates to Acknowledgements: We gratefully acknowledge the fnancial support from IUCN habitat disturbance: a review. Internatonal Journal of Primatology 8(2): Secton on Small Apes, Gibbon Conservaton Alliance, Wildlife Conservaton 157–191. htps://doi.org/10.1007/BF02735162 Network, Internatonal Primatological Society, Ruford Foundaton Small Grant Kabir, M.T. (2012). Primates of Cox’s Bazar District of Bangladesh with (Grant Number: 33003-01) through the Malaysian Primatological Society, and Special Reference to Ecology of the Dwindling Long-tailed Macaque. Global Wildlife Conservaton: Primate Acton Fund (Grant Number: 5585.006- 0318) for the feld work. We also acknowledge the Bangladesh Forest Department; MPhil Thesis, Department of Zoology, University of Chitagong, Ishtaq Uddin Ahmad, former Chief Conservator of Forests, Bangladesh Forest Chitagong, xv+94pp. Department; Divisional Forest Ofcer, Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division; local Kabir, M.T., B.K. Das, M.F. Ahsan & A. Khatoon (2014). Status, distributon forest ofcials, and our local research assistants for their generous support and and conservaton of elongated tortoise (Indotestudo elongata Blyth, suggestons in support of this efort. We also acknowledge to School of Biological 1853) at Cox’s Bazar South Forest Division of Cox’s Bazar District of Sciences, Universit Sains Malaysia, Malaysia for providing us necessary supports. Bangladesh. Journal of Taxonomy and Biodiversity Research 6: 1–4. We are also grateful to Sayam U. Chowdhury, an ornithologist, for identfcaton of Kabir, M.T., M.F. Ahsan, B.K. Das & A. Khatoon (2015). Range extension Slaty-backed Flycatcher. We gratefully acknowledge the partcipants of our focus group discussions. of the Asiatc Sofshell Turtle (Amyda cartlaginea Boddaert, 1770) in

Threatened Taxa 18694 Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 June 2021 | 13(7): 18687–18694

The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) is dedicated to building evidence for conservaton globally by OPEN ACCESS publishing peer-reviewed artcles online every month at a reasonably rapid rate at www.threatenedtaxa.org. All artcles published in JoTT are registered under Creatve Commons Atributon 4.0 Internatonal License unless otherwise mentoned. JoTT allows allows unrestricted use, reproducton, and distributon of artcles in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publicaton.

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)

June 2021 | Vol. 13 | No. 7 | Pages: 18679–18958 Date of Publicaton: 26 June 2021 (Online & Print) www.threatenedtaxa.org DOI: 10.11609/jot.2021.13.7.18679-18958

Communicatons Short Communicatons

Persistence of Trachypithecus geei (Mammalia: Primates: Cercopithecidae) in a rubber plantaton First photographic evidence and distributon of the Indian Pangolin Manis crassicaudata in Assam, India (Mammalia: Pholidota: Manidae) in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan, India – Joydeep Shil, Jihosuo Biswas, Sudipta Nag & Honnavalli N. Kumara, Pp. 18679–18686 – Hemant Singh, Gobind Sagar Bhardwaj, N. Gokulakannan, Saket Agast & K. Aditya, Pp. 18888– 18893 Populaton assessment of the endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon Hoolock hoolock Harlan, 1834 at Sheikh Jamal Inani Natonal Park, Bangladesh, and conservaton signifcance of this site for Populaton and conservaton threats to the Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus (Aves: threatened wildlife species Phoenicopteriformes: Phoenicopteridae) at Basai Wetland and Najafgarh Jheel Bird Sanctuary, – M. Tarik Kabir, M. Farid Ahsan, Susan M. Cheyne, Shahrul Anuar Mohd Sah, Susan Lappan, Haryana, India Thad Q. Bartlet & Nadine Ruppert, Pp. 18687–18694 – Amit Kumar & Sarita Rana, Pp. 18894–18898

Assessment of changes over a decade in the paterns of livestock depredaton by the Himalayan First report on the occurrence of Sargassum Weed Fish Histrio histrio (Lophiliformes: Brown Bear in Ladakh, India Antennariidae) in Nigeria deep water, Gulf of Guinea – Aishwarya Maheshwari, A. Arun Kumar & Sambandam Sathyakumar, Pp. 18695–18702 – Abdul-Rahman Dirisu, Hanson S. Uyi & Meshack Uyi, Pp. 18899–18902

Habitat selecton of Himalayan Musk Deer Moschus leucogaster (Mammalia: Artodactyla: A new distributon record of stomatopods Odontodactylus japonicus (De Haan, 1844) and Moschidae) with respect to biophysical atributes in Annapurna Conservaton Area of Nepal Lysiosquilla tredecimdentata (Holthuis, 1941) from the Puducherry coastal waters, east coast of – Bijaya Neupane, Nar Bahadur Chhetri & Bijaya Dhami, Pp. 18703–18712 India – S. Nithya Mary, V. Ravitchandirane & B. Gunalan, Pp. 18903–18907 Sero-diagnosis of tuberculosis in elephants in Maharashtra, India – Utkarsh Rajhans, Gayatri Wankhede, Balaji Ambore , Sandeep Chaudhari, Navnath Nighot, Vithal New records of Agriocnemis keralensis Peters, 1981 and Gynacantha khasiaca MacLachlan, 1896 Dhaygude & Chhaya Sonekar, Pp. 18713–18718 (Insecta: Odonata) from Maharashtra, India – Yogesh Koli, Akshay Dalvi & Dataprasad Sawant, Pp. 18908–18919 Avian species richness in traditonal rice ecosystems: a case study from upper Myanmar – Steven G. Plat, Myo Min Win, Naing Lin, Swann Htet Naing Aung, Ashish John & Thomas R. A new distributon record of the Horn Coral Caryophyllia grandis Gardiner & Waugh, 1938 Rainwater, Pp. 18719–18737 (Anthozoa: Scleractnia) from the Karnataka Coast, India – J.S. Yogesh Kumar & C. Raghunathan, Pp. 18920–18924 Conservaton status, feeding guilds, and diversity of birds in Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Karnataka, India Re-collecton, extended distributon, and amplifed descripton of Vaccinium paucicrenatum – M.N. Harisha, K.S. Abdul Samad & B.B. Hoset, Pp. 18738–18751 Sleumer (Ericaceae) from the Arunachal Himalaya in India – Subhasis Panda, Pp. 18925–18932 Birds of Surat-Dangs: a consolidated checklist of 75 years (1944–2020) with special emphasis on noteworthy bird records and bird hotspots from northern Western Ghats of Gujarat, India – Nikunj Jambu & Kaushal G. Patel, Pp. 18752–18780 Notes

Identfcaton of a unique barb from the dorsal body contour feathers of the Indian Pita Pita Photographic record of the Rusty-spoted Cat Prionailurus rubiginosus (I. Geofroy Saint-Hilaire, brachyura (Aves: Passeriformes: Pitdae) 1831) (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) in southern Western Ghats, India – Prateek Dey, Swapna Devi Ray, Sanjeev Kumar Sharma , Padmanabhan Pramod & Ram Pratap – Devika Sanghamithra & P.O. Nameer, Pp. 18933–18935 Singh, Pp. 18781–18791 Natural history notes on the highly threatened Pinto’s Chachalaca Ortalis remota (Aves: Cracidae) Underestmated diversity of Cnemaspis Strauch, 1887 (Sauria: Gekkonidae) on karst landscapes in – Carlos Otávio Araujo Gussoni & Marco Aurélio Galvão da Silva, Pp. 18936–18938 Sarawak, East Malaysia, Borneo – Izneil Nashriq & Indraneil Das, Pp. 18792–18799 Black-bellied Coral Snake Sinomicrurus nigriventer (Wall, 1908) (Elapidae): an extended distributon in the western Himalaya, India Aborichthys barapensis, a new species of river loach (Cypriniformes: Nemacheilidae) from – Sipu Kumar, Jignasu Dolia, Vartka Chaudhary, Amit Kumar & Abhijit Das, Pp. 18939–18942 Arunachal Pradesh, the eastern Himalaya, India – P. Nanda & L. Tamang, Pp. 18800–18808 First record of the Afghan Poplar Hawkmoth Laothoe wit Eitschberger et al., 1998 (Sphingidae: Smerinthinae) from India: a notable range extension for the genus A study on the community structure of damselfies (Insecta: Odonata: Zygoptera) in Paschim – Muzafar Riyaz, Pratheesh Mathew, Taslima Shiekh, S. Ignacimuthu & K. Sivasankaran, Pp. 18943– Medinipur, West Bengal, India 18946 – Pathik Kumar Jana, Priyanka Halder Mallick & Tanmay Bhatacharya, Pp. 18809–18816 The tribe Cnodalonini (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae: Stenochiinae) from Maharashtra with two new New distributon and range extension records of geometrid moths (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) records from two western Himalayan protected areas – V.D. Hegde & D. Vasanthakumar, Pp. 18947–18948 – Pritha Dey & Axel Hausmann, Pp. 18817–18826 Do predatory adult odonates estmate their adult prey odonates’ body size and dispersal ability to Buterfy diversity of Putalibazar Municipality, Syangja District, Gandaki Province, Nepal proceed with a successful atack? – Kismat Neupane & Mahamad Sayab Miya, Pp. 18827–18845 – Tharaka Sudesh Priyadarshana, Pp. 18949–18952

New records and distributon extension of Nassarius persicus (Martens, 1874) and N. tadjallii Rediscovery of Ophiorrhiza incarnata C.E.C. Fisch. (Rubiaceae) from the Western Ghats of Moolenbeek, 2007 (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Nassariidae) to India India afer a lapse of 83 years – Sayali Nerurkar & Deepak Apte, Pp. 18846–18852 – Perumal Murugan, Vellingiri Ravichandran & Chidambaram Murugan, Pp. 18953–18955

Flowering plants of Agumbe region, central Western Ghats, Karnataka, India Response – G.S. Adithya Rao & Y.L. Krishnamurthy, Pp. 18853–18867 Comments on the “A checklist of mammals with historical records from Darjeeling-Sikkim Populaton assessment and habitat distributon modelling of the threatened medicinal plant Himalaya landscape, India” Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. in the Kumaun Himalaya, India – P.O. Nameer, Pp. 18956–18958 – Naveen Chandra, Gajendra Singh, Shashank Lingwal, M.P.S. Bisht & Lalit Mohan Tewari, Publisher & Host Pp. 18868–18877

Occurrence of gilled fungi in Puducherry, India – Vadivelu Kumaresan, Chakravarthy Sariha, Thokur Sreepathy Murali & Gunasekaran Senthilarasu, Pp. 18878–18887

Threatened Taxa