BATU PAHAT: Researchers from Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia have discovered the critically endangered Raffles' banded langur (Presbytis femoralis), also known as the banded leaf monkey, in Pahang, expanding its known distribution beyond Johor.
According to Buletin TV3, this finding was published in the American Journal of Primatology in November 2024, under the title "Ethnoprimatology reveals new extended distribution of critically endangered banded langur Presbytis femoralis (Martin, 1838) in Pahang, Malaysia: Insights from indigenous traditional knowledge and molecular analysis."
Associate Professor Dr Muhammad Abdul Latiff Abu Bakar from the Faculty of Applied Sciences and Technology and the research team, which included PhD students, employed an innovative ethnozoological approach alongside field observations and DNA analysis.
Muhammad Abdul said that the banded leaf monkey was previously thought to exist only in Johor, with around 500 individuals.
However, their study has confirmed the presence of this species in Pahang, significantly expanding its known distribution.
The discovery arose from Muhammad Abdul's role on the task force for the Sustainable Assessment of the Chini Lake Biosphere under the Academy of Sciences Malaysia, which involved collaboration with the local Jakun indigenous community.
"Initial information came from the indigenous community and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) before we carried out more detailed studies.
"The banded leaf monkey is quite elusive, requiring long-term observation and DNA analysis of faecal samples for confirmation," he said.
The banded leaf monkey, a leaf-eating primate classified as Critically Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, faces numerous threats, including habitat destruction and illegal hunting.
The study shows that the banded leaf monkey's habitat extends beyond Johor and Singapore, underscoring the urgent need for collaboration among scientists, local communities, and agencies to enhance conservation efforts and protect Malaysia's biodiversity.