
Critically endangered langur spotted with infant in Sarawak forest
Published on: Saturday, June 21, 2025
Published on: Sat, Jun 21, 2025 Text Size: The critically endangered three-coloured langur. - Pic Dr Ahmad Ampeng KUCHING: A critically endangered three-coloured langur and its infant have been sighted in the wild, confirming that the species is still reproducing naturally, the New Straits Times reported. Sarawak Forestry Department (JHS) senior researcher Dr Ahmad Ampeng said the sighting offers signs of population recovery, likely supported by state-led conservation efforts. He credited the gazettement of an 845-hectare area in Sungai Selai Inah, Jemoreng, as a Permanent Forest Reserve for helping preserve the species' habitat. Ahmad said the langurs are highly sensitive to human scent and sound, prompting researchers to wear the same unwashed clothing for months and use silent camera traps. Classified as critically endangered by the IUCN, the species was last recorded in Maludam Forest Reserve in 1832, with its recent rediscovery confirmed via camera footage collected since July 2022. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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Daily Express
12 hours ago
- Daily Express
Critically endangered langur spotted with infant in Sarawak forest
Published on: Saturday, June 21, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jun 21, 2025 Text Size: The critically endangered three-coloured langur. - Pic Dr Ahmad Ampeng KUCHING: A critically endangered three-coloured langur and its infant have been sighted in the wild, confirming that the species is still reproducing naturally, the New Straits Times reported. Sarawak Forestry Department (JHS) senior researcher Dr Ahmad Ampeng said the sighting offers signs of population recovery, likely supported by state-led conservation efforts. He credited the gazettement of an 845-hectare area in Sungai Selai Inah, Jemoreng, as a Permanent Forest Reserve for helping preserve the species' habitat. Ahmad said the langurs are highly sensitive to human scent and sound, prompting researchers to wear the same unwashed clothing for months and use silent camera traps. Classified as critically endangered by the IUCN, the species was last recorded in Maludam Forest Reserve in 1832, with its recent rediscovery confirmed via camera footage collected since July 2022. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia


New Straits Times
2 days ago
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Rare three-coloured langur spotted with offspring in Sarawak
KUCHING: The recent sighting of a critically endangered three-coloured langur and its offspring offers strong evidence that the species is still reproducing naturally in the wild. Senior Sarawak Forestry Department (JHS) researcher, Dr Ahmad Ampeng, said the finding indicates a possible recovery in the population of this highly threatened species, thanks to ongoing conservation efforts. He praised the Sarawak government's decision to gazette an 845-hectare area in Sungai Selai Inah, Jemoreng, Matu, as a Permanent Forest Reserve, highlighting its ecological importance. "Previously, we observed that the three‑coloured langur population was growing very slowly, "However, when camera‑trap footage showed a female langur with her infant, this was a very positive development." he said. Ahmad explained the difficulty in observing the species directly, as they are highly sensitive to human scent. To avoid detection, researchers wore the same unlaundered clothing for months and refrained from using any scented products. "If the expedition lasted three months in the forest, we wore the same clothes for that entire period," he said, adding that the langurs also react to noise, such as camera shutters. "Even a single camera click can startle them into running away, which is why we installed silent video‑trapping cameras on trees." The three-coloured langur is classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is fully protected under the 1998 Sarawak Wildlife Protection Ordinance. Previously, the species had only been recorded in the Maludam Forest Reserve in Betong Division in 1832, 192 years ago. Ahmad and his team from JHS confirmed the langur's reappearance using camera-trap footage gathered during their intensive survey, which began in July 2022. The remarkable discovery was published on Marc 27h 2024 in the peer-reviewed journal Check List The Journal of Biodiversity Data
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