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Scientists launch study on five primate species endemic to Mentawai Islands
Four of the five primate species are Macaca Pagensis and Simias concolor), categorized as “critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as well as Hylobates Klossii and Macaca Siberut, both of which are listed by the IUCN as “vulnerable”.
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Tsunami, an 11-year-old female Sumatran Orangutan eats fruit during her birthday celebration at the National Zoo Ape Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Dec. 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Joshua Paul)
S
cientists from the Primate Research Center (PSSP) at the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) and wildlife park Taman Safari Indonesia in West Java recently collected data on five primate species endemic to Mentawai Islands during an exploration of the islands off the western coast of Sumatra.
Four of the five primate species are Macaca Pagensis and Simias concolor), categorized as “critically endangered” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as well as Hylobates Klossii and Macaca Siberut, both of which are listed by the IUCN as “vulnerable”.
During the exploration, scientists identified the location of the primates and their total population on the islands.
In a PSSP adviser board meeting in Bogor, West Java, PSPP head and veteies on the data they had collected.
“There are a number of primate species on the Mentawai Islands that have never been seen and studied before, so if we are able to study all of [the species] and present it to the public at Taman Safari, that would be incredible,” Huda said.
He went on to say that the exploration was a good example of collaboration between all relevant stakeholders, including academics, businesspeople and government officials.
In the meeting, which was also attended by University of Copenhagen’s head of section lab animal facilities, Jann Hau, and James Koudy Williams from Wake Forest University in North Carolina, Huda said the exploration was the idea of Taman Safari director Jansen Manangsang and he wished the park could share the findings with the public.
Meanwhile, Jansen said Taman Safari an thed PSSP had been collaborating for about 20 years and produced various studies, including one that explored illnesses suffered by primates.
Jensen also shared his excitement over exploring the whereabouts of primate species on the Mentawai Islands and collecting their data, calling the program a big contribution to the country and the world. (nal)
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