The Primates of Peninsular Malaysia

Nature Vol. 277 8 February 1979 4'33 delegates in the way that was true of conservat,ion. Inaugurating the congress, V. The primates of peninsular Malaysia Ramalingaswami, President of the from David Chivers Indian National Science Academy, THE evergreen rain-forest that covers have shown their interest in tackling stated that half of the world's 180 nearly half the land area of Peninsular this problem, and current research non-human primate species were in Malaysia is rich in primates and other projects will, one hopes, provide guid danger of extinction and he called for wildlife. There are three species of ance. a deeper understanding of primate lesser ape, the siamang (Hylobates The Game Department in Malaysia biology in order to facilitate manage syndactylus) and lar gibbon (H. far) has been reorganised into the Depart ment for survival. He urged biomedical with the agile gibbon (H. agilis) in ment of Wildlife and National Parks, researchers only to use primate sub the north, two species of macaque, with the Chief Game Warden, Encik jects where absolutely necessary and the long-tailed macaque (Macaca Mohamed Khan bin Momin Khan, pointed out their common interest with fascicularis) and the pig-tailed KMN, as its Director-General; conservationists in that both groups macaque (M. nemestrina), two species numerous research officers have been desire the preservation of primate of leaf monkey, the dusky leaf appointed, and a generous allocation populations. monkey (Presbytis obscura) and the of government funds has been made A Conservation Round Table, which banded leaf monkey (P. me/alophos), for conservation in the current quin was intended to last for a morning, con (with a third species, the silver leaf quennium under the Third Malaysia tinued by demand of the participants monkey (P. cristata) in the mangrove Plan. Apart from coordinating the throughout the afternoon with dele swamps of the west coast), and the conservation effort, with encourage gates offering summaries of the prosimian slow loris (Nycticebus ment from the Malayan Nature situation in almost every country that coucang). Society, the department is also has indigenous primates. In summing Habitat varies wi'th altitude; the responsible to the Ministry of Science, up this session in his report to the lowland Dipterocarp rain-forest has Technology and Environment for Business Meeting of the Society, Vice the most varied flora and fauna, and maintaining national parks and president J. S. Gartlan struck several primates abound. The gibbons and game reserves and enforcing the themes. First, education about con leaf monkeys extend up into hill Dip rigorous laws that protect Malaysia's servation appears to be a major need ·terocarp forest and sub-montane wildlife. Only M. fascicularis is throughout much of the world. Where formations, but the smaller gibbons exported at present, at a rate of less efforts have been made, the results have and dusky leaf monkey are more than 10,000 a year. More information been encouraging. A case in point is restricted to the lower forests. Pig is needed urgently to assess the effect Kenya, where the Wildlife Clubs are tailed macaques show a preference of this on the wild population, working successfully in schools. At a for the higher, more remote forests, whether the export of any other higher level, ·there is a need for the while the long-tailed macaques prefer species can be justified for essential education of field staff (such as game riverine forest and disturbed habitats, medical research and, if so, in what rangers) in the developing countries. in which they scavenge on the by numbers. This must go hand in hand with the products of human society. It is against this background that provision of incentives in terms of jobs Forest clearance poses the main a 3-year programme. of collaborative and security. treat to Malaysia's wildlife; timber research between Universiti Pertanian Second, the greatest threat to natural is a valuable resource which has been Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan primate populations comes from habitat over-exploited. There is increasing Malaysia and the University of Cam destruction, with trade and hunting for realisation that such benefits are bridge was started in July 1978, any purpose being of variable serious short term, with possible disaster assisted with funds from the US ness in different areas. He contrasted beyond. The maintenance of perma Public Health Service, the L. S. B. India where wild animals are seldom nent forest reserve over about 45% Leakey Foundation and The Royal molested with West Africa where of the Peninsula will, it is hoped, Society. The main aims are to study hunting for protein is a major problem. contain the increasing problems of the socio-ecology of the lesser-known Third, the outlook in any area can flooding and soil erosion. The long species such as the slow loris and the change rapidly, often due to govern term economic benefit of sustained, pig-tailed macaque, and to assess the ment action. For example, Guyana still light, selective logging, harvesting of distribution and habitat preferences contains large areas of relatively un other plant products, and cropping of of each species throughout the pen disturbed forest in its interior, but the various mammal species in such insula. The intention is to determine government has declared its intention managed forests, and the benefits of precisely the effects of different de to develop this land for human use protecting watersheds and organising grees and types of habitat disturbance including that of providing a site for a tourism in undisturbed habitats re on primate populations. Laboratory new national capital. Gartlan urged main to be established. This needs to studies on many aspects of the biology continual surveillance of parks and be coupled with the more efficient use of the indigenous primates will be reserves to guard against encroach of agricultural areas. made using animals displaced by ments or changes in their legal status. Until this long-term equilibrium forest clearance. These studies should Fourth, management of the ecosytem between man and wildlife is estab provide the information essential for is essential for a conserved area, and lished there is the distressing problem their conservation in both natural therefore any plans to create a national of wildlife made homeless by clear and disturbed habitats. park or a reserve are worthless without felling. Unless animals can be trans such management. ferred to other forests where numbers have been reduced by hunting, they David Chivers is in the Sub-Department Gartlan's fifth theme reflected the of Veterinary Anatomy, University of activist mood of the delegates. He are doomed. The Wildlife Department Cambridge. pointed out that most wild primate populations are to be found in tropical at an early stage could often be of Michael Kavanagh is a Senior Research countries where much development is benefit to primate conservation and A ss?cia~e in the Department of Anatomy, funded through international agencies. that therefore the International Prima Umverslfy of Cambridge. He suggested that modification of plans tological Society should develop an f)CJ28-{)836/79/0277-4133SOI.OO C Macmillan Journals Ltd 1979 .

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