Brueni: Proboscis Monkey Killed In Traffic Accident Near Cleared Mangrove Site

BruDirect 22 Sep 10;

Bandar Seri Begawan - A Proboscis monkey, an endangered species endemic to Borneo island, was killed yesterday by afternoon traffic in Bunut, just kilometres away from a site where a known proboscis habitat was cleared earlier this year to make way fora flood prevention project.

An eyewitness who had been on his way to the capital told The Brunei Times that the long-nosed primate, which at the time was still alive but "seriously injured", was left in the middle of the road near the Bunut Shell filling station.

The eyewitness, who wanted to be known as Steve A, said that by around 2pm, the then limp animal had caused a traffic jam by motorists who were trying to avoid from running over it.

"At first, we thought it was a dog that had been hit because it was quite big and because of its colour," said Steve A, who stopped by the roadside to investigate.

Steve said that a teenager, who was also stuck in the jam with his family, had realised that it was a proboscis monkey and stepped out of the family four-wheel drive vehicle to help.

After signalling for traffic to stop, the young male adolescent lifted the nearly 20kg monkey and carried it to the side of the road.

However, the young Samaritan left the scene soon afterwards as his family had been waiting for him, Steve recalled.

Steve said that he tried to help out by contacting the Museums Department to come and try to save the monkey. He said that he had wanted to take the monkey to the veterinarian himself, but was afraid to do so because of the animal's endangered status.

However, when officials from the department arrived half an hour later from Kota Batu, it was too late.

"After being hit by the car, the monkey was still alive but was having difficulty breathing. Just when the officials were about to arrive, it was shaking and died," Steve said.

The museums officials collected data on the creature before bringing its body with them.

Steve estimated that the monkey was nearly 20kg, and considered a "young adult" of the species, based on his experiences from riverboat tours around Sg Damuan, where the proboscis monkeys, locally known as bengkatan, were often seen in the past.

"It was very big. In a group, that monkey would have been the leader," he remarked.

Normally timid creatures, the long-nosed, pot-bellied primates were known to keep away from human territories despite their habitats being just "15 minutes" away from the city. He recalled a similar incident in the past when another proboscis was killed while trying to cross a road in Lumapas.

"It is very rare to see proboscis monkeys go to busy areas. However there are some speculations that they are looking for food as most of the mangrove trees are being chopped down at around Damuan and Bunut rivers," Steve said.

The mangroves forests along Sg Damuan were cleared last May by the authorities, who saw it as a "necessary" initiative to combat habitual flooding in the nearby villages, which was home to some 30,000 residents.

However, the project caused dissent among the public, many of whom were initially left in the dark as to what was going on. People voiced out that the clearing of the mangroves would drive the endangered primates away, as well as affect the number of tourists who come to see these shy monkeys.

The Public Works Department (PWD) assured the public that the project's impact to the natural habitats were "minimal".

"Unfortunately, the clearance is essential to reduce flooding in the residential areas of Perpindahan Bunut, Bengkurong, Tasek Meradun, Bebatik, Mulaut and Kilanas," said the PWD public relations office in a statement released in May this year.

"The question of the best option incorporated short-term displacement for the proboscis and the tourism they generate, while minimising flooding for 30,000 people," said the department.

The department added that only about one per cent of the 9.5 square kilometres of mangroves would be cleared through the project.

It had also then emphasised that "no proboscis (had) been killed to date and care will be taken to ensure they move on to adjoining mangroves prior to river excavation". -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

[by Ubaidillah Masli]