Primate experts publish action plan to protect langurs in Southeast Asia
Ensuring the survival of 20 Asian langur species is the goal of an international team of primate experts and conservationists. In their recently published action plan, they identify the most important endangerment risks and show ways to prevent the species from becoming extinct. Habitat loss due to massive deforestation, hunting for the animals' meat, poaching for the pet trade and climate change are the biggest problems for the animals. The action plan recommends nine concrete measures for the next decade to prevent the extinction of 20 Asian langur populations.
31 researchers from 23 institutions, led by Andie Ang from the Primate Conservation and Singapore Program at Mandai Nature and Christian Roos from the German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, have drawn up a roadmap to save 20 endangered langur species in Southeast Asia. The actions include guidance for both local and international conservation organizations, governments, communities, research institutions, zoos and wildlife centers.
Endangerment risks
Massive deforestation in Southeast Asia, caused by logging, monoculture cultivation and forest fires, has been identified as the main cause of habitat loss for langurs living in the treetops. In addition, conflicts between humans and wild animals are becoming more and more frequent as both encounter each other in ever smaller areas. Some species are also hunted for food, caught for the pet trade or run over on the roads. Overall, over 85 percent of Asian langurs are threatened with extinction, making them one of the most endangered groups of monkeys in the world.
Nine measures to protect the animals
“Until now, conservation measures have mostly focused on individual species. In our approach, we focus on an entire genus of primates in order to gain more attention from decision-makers,” says Christian Roos, scientist at the German Primate Center and one of the main authors of the action plan.
Langurs live high up in the trees, sometimes in very remote areas. They are therefore still largely unexplored. “We urgently need more information about these animals, what requirements they have for their habitat, how the species are related to each other and how many individuals are still around,” says Christian Roos. “This is the only way we can develop and implement effective conservation measures.”
Other measures mentioned include habitat protection, reforestation and fire control, but these are difficult to implement due to a lack of financial resources and insufficient support at the political level. The action plan recommends that viable populations of each langur species be protected in at least two large and well-managed protected areas, and emphasizes the urgent need to restore wildlife corridors and improve preventive and management measures against slash-and-burn agriculture. More awareness and education among the local population, conservation tourism and sustainable networks at local and international level are identified and called for as further measures. “A crucial point will be the financing of conservation measures, which is point eight of our list of measures. To support this, we have proclaimed the International Day of the Slender Monkey, which will take place for the first time on August 25, 2024,” says Christian Roos.
Original publication
Ang, A., Brandon-Jones, D., Ruppert, N., Lee, Z. H., Affendi, A., Anyie, Y. S., Boonratana, R., Cheyne, S., Chua, A., Hayunieta, Irawan, A., Jerusalinsky, L., Karuniawati, A., Khalid, S., Koh, J., Lee, C., Lhota, S., Lwin, N., Mittermeier, R. A., Nijman, V., Oram, F., Pan, S., Rizaldi, Rowe, N., Ruskhanidar, Rylands, A. B., Segaran, P., Setiawan, A., Taufiq, A., Thant, N. M. L., bin Zaini, M. K. Raghavan, R., & Roos, C. (2024). Asian langurs (Presbytis) Conservation Action Plan 2024-2034. IUCN