Report on the large mammals of the Uut Murung Region, Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Susan M. Cheyne; Andrea Hoeing; Peter R. Houlihan; Kursani Kursani; Dominic Rowland; Michael Zrust

Susan M. Cheyne Wildlife Conservation Research Unit (WildCRU), Department of Zoology, Oxford University, Tubney, OX13 5QL, UK
Andrea Hoeing Department of South-East Asia Studies, University of Passau, Germany
Peter R. Houlihan Department of Biology, Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville USA
Kursani Kursani Orang-utan Tropical Peatland Project, Jalan Semeru No. 91, Bukit Hindu, Palangka Raya, Indonesia
Dominic Rowland Orang-utan Tropical Peatland Project, Jalan Semeru No. 91, Bukit Hindu, Palangka Raya, Indonesia
Michael Zrust Orang-utan Tropical Peatland Project, Jalan Semeru No. 91, Bukit Hindu, Palangka Raya, Indonesia

Abstract

Using camera traps and standard transect surveys, we surveyed the forests of the upper Murung River region for presence of large mammals. A total of 10 camera traps were placed singly covering 2km2 and 10km of trails were walked. Our results confirm that this region supports a high diversity of fauna: a total of 20 large mammals including 9 primates and 2 felids were recorded in the area. These numbers may actually underestimate the true diversity of this region, due to our limited survey period, resources and size of study area. Of the 21 species recorded, 2 are classified as endangered and 10 are classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, including the Bornean southern gibbon and Müllers gibbon (Hylobates albibarbis and H. muelleri), Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardii) and proboscis monkey (Nasalis larvatus). Thus, considering the large size of intact forest and the fact that the species list presented in this report may be incomplete, the forests of the upper Murung River region are likely to be an important area for biodiversity conservation.