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Singapore, 23 August 2024 – In a collaborative effort between international primate experts and conservationists, the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group, Mandai Nature – which hosts the Southeast Asia Regional Resource Centre of IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group, Rewild, German Primate Center and Primate Conservation Inc have launched the Asian langurs (Presbytis) Conservation Action Plan 2024-2034. This landmark initiative, the first genus action plan for an endangered group of Asian monkeys, is part of a series of action plans by the Primate Specialist Group. It calls for unified conservation efforts across Southeast Asia, outlining key priorities and actions for the next decade to prevent the extinction of 20 Asian langur populations in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand.
Led by Dr Andie Ang, Head of Primate Conservation and Singapore Programmes at Mandai Nature and Dr Christian Roos, Scientist at the German Primate Center, the action plan combined inputs from a total of 31 species experts and conservationists from 23 institutions around the world. The plan provides a comprehensive roadmap for local and international conservation groups, governments, communities, academic and research institutions, zoos and wildlife centres, promoting collaboration around research, mobilisation of effective conservation measures, stakeholder engagement and policy influence.
“With the launch of this action plan, we are shining a much-needed spotlight on several highly endangered species that have long been overlooked despite their rapidly declining populations and importance to Southeast Asia’s unique biodiversity. This blueprint for action, grounded in science, advocacy and collaboration, will chart a course towards a more sustainable future for the Asian langurs. By uniting efforts and resources across international networks, we have achieved a critical milestone in producing this action plan in record time,” said Dr Russell Mittermeier, Chairman of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group and Chief Conservation Officer of Re:Wild.
Despite their highly threatened status, only a few langur populations have been studied in detail, owing to their elusive nature, arboreality and the challenging terrains where they are located. This has made conservation challenging. Over 85 per cent of Asian langurs are threatened with extinction, making them one of the continent’s most threatened primate groups. Among the 20 Asian langur species highlighted in the conservation action plan, two of them – the Bornean banded langur (Presbytis chrysomelas) and Raffles’ banded langur (Presbytis femoralis) – are listed in the top 25 most endangered primates in the world.
Dr Andie Ang, who is also a Co-Deputy Chair of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group, “For the first time, an action plan has been created for a group of primates, rather than focusing on a single species. Many of these species are found in the same region and face similar threats. With this holistic approach, we can work more efficiently and effectively with stakeholders to address genus-wide conservation actions across the region. The Presbytis genus, on the whole, has not been viewed as a global priority for conservation until now, but we cannot underestimate the urgency of taking action before they are lost forever.”
Nine conservation priorities identified to address key threats to Asian langurs
Habitat loss has been identified as a key threat facing Asian langurs with extensive deforestation in Southeast Asia impacting their forested habitats. The primary drivers of deforestation include urban and economic development, natural resource extraction, logging and monoculture plantation and forest fires.
Several species, such as the Miller’s grizzled langur (Presbytis canicrus) and the white-fronted langur (Presbytis frontata) are also imperiled by threats such as hunting for their meat, bones and bezoar stones. Other documented threats include human-wildlife conflicts arising from crop-raiding incidents, poaching for the illegal pet trade, and roadkill.
To tackle these issues and ensure the continued survival of the Asian langurs, the plan proposes a comprehensive approach integrating nine conservation priorities such as field studies, habitat protection, education, conservation tourism, ex situ measures, global networking and collaborative partnerships, among other recommendations to tackle threats identified facing the langurs and ensure the continued survival of the Asian langurs.
For example, more robust protection of their core habitats, including restoring fragmented forests and implementing fire control measures is essential for the langurs’ protection. While many of them occur in protected areas such as national parks, these areas often face issues that reduce their effectiveness. This includes inadequate funding and manpower, habitat loss due to human activities or climate change, or insufficient community and government support.
The action plan recommends that viable populations of each of the Asian langurs be protected in at least two large and well-managed protected areas and emphasises the urgent need to restore wildlife corridors and enhance preventive and management measures against slash-and-burn practices or fires caused by other human activities. The action plan was developed following a conservation planning workshop held in August 2023 in Kuching, Malaysia co-organised and co-facilitated by IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group and Mandai Nature as host of the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group. During the workshop, international primate experts and conservation practitioners convened to identify existing gaps and threat levels, and outlined the corresponding conservation actions needed to mitigate or reverse the decline of langur population.
The full document can be accessed here: https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/51546
Fostering conservation awareness and action for colobine monkeys
In conjunction with the launch of the Asian langurs (Presbytis) Conservation Action Plan 2024-2034, an international Colobine Monkey Day has been established on 25 August. Officially endorsed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this day aims to raise conservation awareness for colobine monkeys (Colobinae), a sub-family of primates that includes all Asian langurs, African colobus monkeys and snub-nosed monkeys.
Colobine monkeys are medium-sized, largely arboreal primates known for their complex, multi-chambered stomach which enables them to digest tough plant material such as leaves and seeds. This unique adaptation has earned them the moniker ‘leaf monkeys’.
Of the 83 recognised species of colobine monkeys, 59 are found in Asia. However, many of these, including the Critically Endangered Tonkin snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus avunculus) and the Delacour’s langur (Trachypithecus delacouri), are at high risk of extinction.
“Given their high species diversity, wide geographic range across Asia and Africa, high threat level and relatively low awareness among the public, the recognition of this special day will go a long way in spurring local, national and global campaigns to rally public support and draw attention to the plight of colobine monkeys,” added Dr Ang, who proposed the creation of the Colobine Monkey Day.
