Collaborative effort between
Wildlife Reserves Singapore and National Parks Board to save critically
endangered primate; only one of three primates found in Singapore a valued part
of country’s natural heritage
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The
Raffles’ Banded Langur is a shy and elusive primate that is considered
critically endangered at the national level. This National Day month, Wildlife
Reserves Singapore and National Parks Board are joining hands to safeguard this
species’ survival with the launch of a national conservation strategy for the
Raffles’ Banded Langur. PHOTO CREDITS: ANDIE ANG
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Singapore’s
Raffles’ Banded Langur (Presbytis
femoralis femoralis) is getting a boost this National Day month, with the
launch of a national conservation strategy for the critically endangered species.
Ambassador-at-Large Professor Tommy Koh, who will serve as patron of the
project, launched the initiative during a ceremony at Singapore Botanic
Gardens.
Immediate
priorities include managing the habitat and population through habitat
enhancement such as establishing green corridors and exploring options for
providing connectivity across forest fragments, focused enrichment plantings
based on our understanding of the dietary requirements of the langurs,
gathering data to understand more about the movements and habitat preferences of the langurs, and securing the
necessary commitment and resources to ensure the long-term conservation of the
Raffles’ Banded Langur in Singapore and Malaysia.
A workshop was
held at the Singapore Zoo in early August in which over 30 stakeholders from 15
organisations, including representatives from Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS),
National Parks Board (NParks), International Union for the Conservation of
Nature’s (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) Primate Specialist Group, Department
of Wildlife and National Parks Peninsular Malaysia, conservation NGOs and
universities came together to jointly develop a conservation strategy for the
Raffles’ Banded Langur. The workshop was funded by WRS and facilitated by IUCN.
Securing a future for the Raffles’ Banded Langur will require
targeted action in a number of areas. Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation
Fund will engage Ms. Andie Ang, who has studied the langurs since 2008,
and is a member of IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group, to set up and chair a Raffles’ Banded Langur Working
Group. The working group will glean outputs from the recent workshop to map out
a Species Action Plan, which will be used to guide and implement the
conservation work for this species in the coming years. The project is fully
supported by Wildlife Reserves Singapore Conservation Fund over the next two
years.
One of only three
non-human primates to be found locally, the Raffles’ Banded Langur was first discovered
by Sir Stamford Raffles 194 years ago. Up to the 1920s, they were still
reported to be common in Singapore across Changi, Tampines, Bukit Timah, Pandan
and Tuas. Deforestation for urban development led to the shrinking of their
habitat such that the Raffles’ Banded Langurs were confined to only the Bukit
Timah Nature Reserve (BTNR) and Central Catchment Nature Reserve (CCNR) in the
1980s. In 1987, the last member of a troop living in BTNR was reportedly mauled
to death by a pack of dogs.
By 2010, it
was estimated that there were 40-60 Raffles’ Banded Langurs left in Singapore.
This subspecies can also be found in southern Peninsular Malaysia, where a
number of isolated populations continue to be threatened by habitat loss and
conversion. Small and isolated populations have a heightened risk of extinction
from the effects of genetic deterioration, extreme weather, disease outbreak
and other catastrophic events.
Dr. Sonja Luz, Director, Conservation and Research, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, said: “It is a fitting time to embark on a consolidated, comprehensive and integrated conservation strategy for the Raffles’ Banded Langur, to ensure the continued survival of this highly charismatic primate. This conservation project is of national importance for Singapore, and together with NParks, we are fully committed to be a part of the pioneering approach to manage the species over the long-term so Singapore does not have a primate going extinct on our watch.”
Dr. Adrian Loo, Director (Terrestrial), National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board, said: “Reforestation, setting aside buffer parks such as the upcoming Tho.on Nature Park and enrichment planting over the years have improved the rainforest habitat of the endangered Raffles’ Banded Langur. This will further help increase the foraging area and connectivity for the species, which saw an increase since the early 1990s. Even so, a multi-pronged approach is required to ensure the full recovery of the species. Thus, NParks looks forward to working with our stakeholders to guide the development of long-term conservation and management strategies for this shy, elusive species. We hope to see these animals thrive in our forests one day.”
Primatologist Ms. Andie Ang, of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group said: “The development of a regional Species Action Plan signifies a first collaboration between Singaporean and Malaysian authorities, universities, and NGOs in the research and conservation of the Raffles’ Banded Langurs. Besides ensuring that the habitat of the langurs is protected and restored, we hope that this joint effort can also help raise public awareness and appreciation of this primate and the natural heritage in both countries.”
ABOUT WILDLIFE RESERVES SINGAPORE
Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) is the holding
company of award-winning attractions Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River
Safari and Singapore Zoo. WRS is dedicated to the management of world-class
leisure attractions that foster conservation and research while educating
visitors about animals and their habitats.
A self-funded organisation, WRS also collaborates
with various partners, organisations and institutions aimed at protecting local
and global biodiversity. Each year, Jurong Bird Park welcomes approximately
800,000 visitors, Night Safari 1.1 million, River Safari 1 million, and
Singapore Zoo 1.7 million. The organisation’s latest attraction is River
Safari, which officially opened on 28 February 2014.
ABOUT NATIONAL PARKS BOARD
(NPARKS)