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Survey of Hylobates agilis albibarbis in a logged peat-swamp forest: Sabangau catchment, Central Kalimantan

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Abstract

Few data are available on gibbon populations in peat-swamp forest. In order to assess the importance of this habitat for gibbon conservation, a population of Hylobates agilis albibarbis was surveyed in the Sabangau peat-swamp forest, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. This is an area of about 5,500 km2 of selectively logged peat-swamp forest, which was formally gazetted as a national park during 2005. The study was conducted during June and July 2004 using auditory sampling methods. Five sample areas were selected and each was surveyed for four consecutive days by three teams of researchers at designated listening posts. Researchers recorded compass bearings of, and estimated distances to, singing groups. Nineteen groups were located. Population density is estimated to be 2.16 (±0.46) groups/km2. Sightings occurring either at the listening posts or that were obtained by tracking in on calling groups yielded a mean group size of 3.4 individuals, hence individual gibbon density is estimated to be 7.4 (±1.59) individuals/km2. The density estimates fall at the mid-range of those calculated for other gibbon populations, thus suggesting that peat-swamp forest is an important habitat for gibbon conservation in Borneo. A tentative extrapolation of results suggests a potential gibbon population size of 19,000 individuals within the mixed-swamp forest habitat sub-type in the Sabangau. This represents one of the largest remaining continuous populations of Bornean agile gibbons. The designation of the Sabangau forest as a national park will hopefully address the problem of illegal logging and hunting in the region. Further studies should note any difference in gibbon density post protection.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the management and staff of the Centre for International Cooperation in Management of Tropical Peatland (CIMTROP) and the University of Palangkaraya for permission to work at the LAHG and for logistical assistance throughout the course of this study. We are grateful to the Orang-utan Foundation UK for the provision of a research grant to C.B. Special thanks to research team leaders, Sampang Gaman and Lucie Janssens, and research assistants, Vicky Martin, Gemma Strickland, Rosalie Dench, Richard Hoolahan, Grace Blackham, and Philip McCurley. Also thank you to Suwido Limin, Helen Morrogh-Bernard, Susan Cheyne, Laura D’Arcy, Anna Lyons, Thomas Geissmann, David Thurling and Simon Bearder. We are indebted to the reviewers, Warren Brockelman and David Chivers, and the editor Toshisada Nishida, for their useful comments, which have greatly improved this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, Centre for Conservation, Environment and Development, School of Social Sciences and Law, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, OX3 0BP, UK

    Cara Buckley & K. A. I. Nekaris

  2. The Orangutan Tropical Peatland Research Project, CIMTROP, University of Palangkaraya, Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

    Cara Buckley & Simon John Husson

  3. Wildlife Research Group, Department of Anatomy, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, UK

    Simon John Husson

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  1. Cara Buckley
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Correspondence to K. A. I. Nekaris.

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Buckley, C., Nekaris, K.A.I. & Husson, S.J. Survey of Hylobates agilis albibarbis in a logged peat-swamp forest: Sabangau catchment, Central Kalimantan. Primates 47, 327–335 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-006-0195-7

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