Abundance of primates reveals Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia as a priority area for conservation

Coudrat, Camille N. Z.; Rogers, Leslie; Nekaris, K. Anne-Isola

doi:10.1017/s0030605310001080

Cited by 12 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Earlier studies (Charles-Dominique & Bearder, 1979) suggested that nocturnal primates reduce their activity during the middle period of the night. However, our results are in accordance with other work on the genus Nycticebus , suggesting that these animals are active throughout the night, with the exception of periods of torpor (Starr et al, 2010; Coudrat et al, 2011). Bengal slow lorises were most often found in trees of the genus Terminalia (Combretaceae), from which they are known to consume both leaves and gum (Swapna et al, 2009; Rogers & Nekaris, 2011; Das, pers.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Persistence and protection of the Vulnerable Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, north-east India

Das¹,

Nekaris²,

Biswas³

et al. 2014

Oryx

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The Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis is the only strepsirrhine primate in north-east India. It is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The limited information on its status and ecology is the main hindrance to developing a conservation strategy for this species in India. Therefore during February 2009–May 2010 we surveyed the species in 16 protected areas in Assam and one protected area in Arunachal Pradesh. We used recce transects to estimate encounter rates for the species. A team of 3–4 conducted night-time surveys (18.00–03.00) on foot, covering 370 km over 99 full and 28 partial nights. We recorded lorises a total of 22 times in nine protected areas in Assam and three times in the protected area in Arunachal Pradesh. The mean distance of lorises from transects at the time of encounter was 15.04 m, at a mean height of 12.36 m above ground. The encounter rate was 0.06–0.2 lorises per km, which is relatively low compared to encounter rates for slow lorises elsewhere in their range but higher than recorded by other studies in north-east India. We found that despite hunting and habitat loss Bengal slow lorises still exist in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, albeit patchily within a forest block. The protected area network in these states is important for their conservation.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 93%

Persistence and protection of the Vulnerable Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, north-east India

Das¹,

Nekaris²,

Biswas³

et al. 2014

Oryx

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“…Surveys were also conducted in communities surrounding the Central Cardamom Mountains National Park, part of a large protected landscape in southwest Cambodia, which harbours a potentially regionally significant population of sun bears [38]. Currently, there is evidence to suggest that Stung Treng and the Cardamom Mountains may be “source” sites of illegal animals and animal parts [39, 40].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the prevalence of bear part consumption in Cambodia: A comparison of specialised questioning techniques

et al. 2019

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The trade in bear parts for medicine and for status is a conservation challenge throughout Asia. The Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and the sun bear (Helarctos malayanus) are endemic to this region, and populations are estimated to have declined throughout their ranges due to widespread illegal killing of bears and trade in parts, combined with loss of habitat. Previous studies have indicated that legislation alone is insufficient to prevent illegal hunting and trade, indicating instead a need to address demand for bear parts and products. We conducted mixed-method surveys in Cambodia to understand the key motivators for individuals to consume bear parts, and to understand whether specialised questioning techniques are applicable in this context. Bear part use is illegal in Cambodia and may therefore be considered a sensitive behaviour, in that individuals may be reluctant to admit to it. To counteract possible biases, four specialised questioning techniques were used in this study: randomised response technique (RRT), unmatched count technique (UCT), nominative technique (NT), and false consensus bias (FCB). All four methods serve to shield a respondent’s admittance of a sensitive behaviour from the interviewer. The results presented here show that great variability exists in anonymous methods’ efficacy in certain contexts. However, the results overall indicate that individuals in Cambodia are under-reporting their consumption of bear parts when directly asked, and that the prevalence of bear part use in Cambodia may be as high as 15% of the population, representing a significant conservation challenge.

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“…Knowledge of the distribution, abundance and status of Cambodian wildlife is limited (Coudrat et al 2011), although at least 12 species of primates are found across the country (Table 1.3) (Rawson & Roos 2008;Nadler et al 2010). However, like other primates around the world, Cambodian primates are now under threat (Nadler et al 2010) (Table 1.3).…”

Section: Cambodian Primatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, like other primates around the world, Cambodian primates are now under threat (Nadler et al 2010) (Table 1.3). Illegal logging, deforestation, agricultural development, hunting, illegal trade, mine development, and poor law enforcement all contribute to declining primate populations (Coudrat et al 2011;Starr et al 2011). Cambodian Primates are among the most poorly studied wild animals in Cambodia, with only a few species having been studied, such as the genera Nomascus (Frechette 2014;Nelson 2014;Frechette et al in prep), Nycticebus, and Hylobates (Konrad 2004;Traeholt et al 2006;Rawson & Roos 2008;Coudrat et al 2011;Starr et al 2011).…”

Section: Cambodian Primatesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food selection by the northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons (Nomascus annamensis), northern Cambodia

Hon¹

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<p>Tropical regions have extremely high plant diversity, which in turn supports a high diversity of animals. However, not all plant species are selected by animals as food sources, with some herbivores selecting only specific plants as food as not all plants have the same nutrient make up. Animals must select which food items to include in their diets, as the amount and type of nutrients in their diet can affect lifespan, health, fitness, and reproduction. Gibbon populations have declined significantly in recent years due to habitat destruction and hunting. Northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon (Nomascus annamensis) is a newly described species, and has a limited distribution restricted to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons play an important role in seed dispersal, yet little is currently known about this species, including its food selection and nutritional needs. However, data on food selection and nutritional composition of selected food items would greatly inform the conservation of both wild and captive populations of this species. This study aims to quantify food selection by the northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons by investigating the main plant species consumed and the influence of the availability of food items on their selection. The study also explores the nutritional composition of food items consumed by this gibbon species and identifying key plant species that provide these significant nutrients. A habituated group of the northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons with five members located in northern Cambodia was studied for 12 weeks during the dry season, and focal animal sampling was used to observe individual feeding behaviours. Four main activity categories were recorded including resting, feeding, travelling and socializing. Phenological data was recorded from transect lines, and plant densities from 20 vegetation plots inside the home range of this group of gibbons were also measured. Seventy-four plant samples from 20 tree and liana species that were consumed by this group of gibbons were collected for nutritional analyses. These samples were initially dried in sunlight, and then oven dried before levels of protein, total non-structural carbohydrates, lipids, fibres and condensed tannins were measured at the Nutritional Ecology Lab at Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York. The northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon individuals spent most of the time resting, followed by feeding, travelling and socializing. Their main diet was fruit, supplemented with young leaves, flowers, mature leaves, and occasionally insects. Individuals selected food from 37 plant species, but predominately fed on just 16 of these species. The three most-consumed species were fruit from Ilex umbellulata (tree), Ficus. sp (liana), and young leaves from Lithocarpus elegans (tree). There was a significant relationship between feeding time and the availability of flowers, indicating that flowers were actively selected for when present. However, there was no significant relationship between feeding time and the availability of fruit or young leaves. Only a small number of plants bore fruit, with very low densities in the home range of this gibbon study group, but these plants produced a large abundance of fruit. These findings clearly indicate that fruit is the main diet for northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons in the dry season, with young leaves, flowers, mature leaves and insects acting as secondary food sources. The northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons selected only a small number of specific plants in their territory for food sources, indicating that any selective logging targeting these plant species would reduce food availability, and restrict the diet of these animals. Fruits consumed by the northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons were rich in carbohydrates and lipids, while young leaves were richest concentration of protein. Mature leaves had a high moisture content, whereas flowers contained condensed tannins more often than other plant tissues. All plant tissues consumed had similar amount of fibres. Generally, the food items consumed had higher concentrations of carbohydrate than protein or lipids. The overall diet of this group of gibbons was low in lipids. These results indicate that northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbon consumed food items with high concentrations of carbohydrate, and only selected a few food sources with high level of protein. Overall, these findings have contributed important knowledge that can be used for long-term conservation of this gibbon species. There are a small number of key food species in the home range which need special protection. The northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons consumed food items from different plant species, and as a consequence, all plant species selected play an important role for nutritional requirements by this gibbon species. When considering feeding requirement by the northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons for captive breeding programs, diets should include fruit, which is rich in carbohydrates, and young leaves, which have high levels of protein.</p>

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Abundance of primates reveals Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia as a priority area for conservation

Cited by 12 publications

References 13 publications

Persistence and protection of the Vulnerable Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, north-east India

Persistence and protection of the Vulnerable Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, north-east India

Understanding the prevalence of bear part consumption in Cambodia: A comparison of specialised questioning techniques

Food selection by the northern yellow-cheeked crested gibbons (Nomascus annamensis), northern Cambodia

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