Conservation
Saving Raffles’ Banded Langurs
Andie Ang writes on the first collaboration between Singapore and Malaysia to conserve the Asian colobine monkey that Sir Stamford Raffles discovered in 1822. Banded langurs make "coughing" sounds ("whuh whuh") which are alarm calls when Photos by Nick Baker sensing danger nearby.
8 Nature Watch Oct - Dec 2016 Oct - Dec 2016 Nature Watch 9 he Banded Langur (Presbytis femoralis) is a species of Asian colobine monkey (family Cercopithecidae: subfamily Colobinae) which is Factsheet characterised by having a ruminant-like stomach, much like that of a cow. Colobine monkeys also have molars that are adapted for shear- Ting tough food like leaves. Thus they exhibit an enhanced ability to consume foliage, but they also take in significant amounts of other plant parts such as fruits and flowers. They are day-active and arboreal, rarely descending to the ground. The Banded Langur is distributed in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia. Its other common names include Banded Leaf Monkey and Banded Surili. Three subspecies are currently recognised: Raffles’ Banded Langur (P. f. femoralis), Robinson’s Banded Langur (P. f. robinsoni), and East Sumatran Banded Langur (P. f. percura). The Raffles’ Banded Langur Reserve with an estimated population was first discovered by Sir Stamford size of at least 40 individuals. At least Raffles in Singapore in 1822, making six infants were observed from 2008- Singapore its type locality. It is also 2010, with birth seasons observed in found in Johor and Pahang states in June-July for three consecutive years. Malaysia. As a subspecies, it is listed as Despite an apparent increase in the endangered due to habitat loss, severely number of individuals, the population Composite time lapse image of a langur leaping across forest fragments, Singapore. fragmented populations, and a restrict- in Singapore shows low mitochondrial Species name ed distribution. The population size in genetic variability, indicating a risk of Presbytis femoralis femoralis
Malaysia is unknown, but assumed to inbreeding. Common names be larger than the Singapore popula- At a workshop held at the Raffles’ Banded Langur, tion because of its wider distribution Singapore Zoo from 1-2 August 2016, Banded Leaf Monkey, in Malaysia. 31 partners from 15 organisations Banded Surili
In Singapore, it is listed as criti- came together to develop a Species Body mass cally endangered and is only found Action Plan for the Raffles’ Banded 6 kg in the Central Catchment Nature Langur. They included representatives Body length without tail up to 59 cm
Tail length up to 84 cm
Estimated group size 5-12
Estimated home range 20 hectares
from Nature Society Singapore (NSS), Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), National Parks Board (NParks), Jane Goodall Institute Singapore (JGIS), National University of Singapore (NUS), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Infants are born white in colour with black fur across the shoulders Primate Specialist Group, Malaysian and from the back of the head to the tail. Nature Society Johor, Department of As the infant grows, the black bands envelop the body, leaving the tummy and insides of the thighs white. Photo: Andie Ang
10 Nature Watch Oct - Dec 2016 Oct - Dec 2016 Nature Watch 11 REFERENCES Ang, A. (2010). Banded leaf monkeys in Singapore: Preliminary data on taxonomy, feeding ecology, reproduction, and population size (MSc thesis). NUS, 112pp. Ang, A., Ismail, M.R.B., & Meier, R. (2010). Reproduction and infant pelage colouration of the banded leaf monkey (Mammalia: Primates: Cercopithecidae) in Singapore. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 58(2), 411-415. Ang, A., Srivathsan, A., Md.-Zain, B.M., Ismail, M.R.B., & Meier, R. (2012). Low genetic vari- ability in the recovering urban banded leaf mon- key population of Singapore. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 60(2), 589-594. Ang, A. and Boonratana, R. (in press). Presbytis femoralis femoralis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. [NB. Info will soon be updat- ed on www.iucnredlist.org] Fleagle, J.G. (2013). Primate adaptation and evolu- tion (3rd edition). Academic Press, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Boston (Massachusetts), 464pp. Lim, K.K.P., Subaraj, R., Yeo, S.H., Lim, N., Lane, D., & Lee, B.Y.H. (2008). Mammals. In: Davidson, G.W.H., Ng, P.K.L., & Ho, H.C. (eds.), The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened Plants and Animals of Singapore (2nd ed.), NSS, 198pp. Srivathsan, A. (2014). From barcoding to metagenomics: Molecular identification tech- niques for ecological studies of endangered primates (PhD thesis). NUS & Imperial College London, 172pp.
Taking a curious look at a Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis) at Lower Peirce, Singapore. In Singapore, it is listed as critically endangered Pausing briefly while moving through the canopy at Panti Forest in Johor, Malaysia. and is only found in the Central Catchment Map by Ang Yuchen Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular On 12 August 2016, the Species Nature Reserve with an estimated population size Malaysia (Perhilitan), and univer- Action Plan was officially launched sities in Malaysia. by Ambassador-at-Large, Prof Tommy of at least 40 individuals. A 50-year vision was agreed upon: Koh, during a ceremony at the The Raffles’ Banded Langur thrives Singapore Botanic Gardens. Prof Koh is in intact rainforest, ranging freely in a patron of the project. viable, connected populations, widely Over the weeks that followed, a appreciated and well-understood. As a Raffles’ Banded Langur Working Group valued part of the natural heritage in was formed and chaired by Andie Ang. both Malaysia and Singapore, it exem- It comprises representatives of organisa- plifies synergistic conservation collabo- tions key to the future of this langur in ration across its range. both countries. Distribution of Presbytis femoralis in This vision will be realised when A Species Action Plan using Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, we have achieved three goals: • Ensuring the output of the workshop has been and Indonesia. their habitats are protected and restored produced to guide and implement the such as by reconnecting fragmented conservation work for this taxon over Andie Ang (PhD, University of Colorado forests; • Gathering data through long- the next 10 years and beyond. Boulder, USA) has researched Raffles’ term research and monitoring, includ- Together with project assistant Banded Langurs in Singapore for more ing the clarification of their taxonomic Sabrina Jabbar and volunteers, field than eight years. She is the chairperson status; • Securing the necessary resources research is being carried out in of the Raffles’ Banded Langur Working Part of a small troop of around four and commitment for the conserva- Singapore to gather information such Group and a member of the IUCN SSC individuals. Seen resting at the edge of tion of the Raffles’ Banded Langur in as population size, distribution, feeding Primate Specialist Group. Panti Forest. Malaysia and Singapore. behaviour, and infant development. Consuming young leaves of the Rain Tree (Samanea saman) at Panti Forest.
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