Malaysia: Borneo project shines light on tarsier, slow loris

Roy Goh New Straits Times 26 Mar 12;

WILDLIFE PROTECTION: Researchers thrilled to be able to document maternal care in two collared nocturnal primates in Kinabatangan

KOTA KINABALU: THE collaring of two female nocturnal primates recently have created a buzz among scientists conducting research in Kinabatangan.

The primates, a tarsier and a slow loris, were each found nursing their offspring at the Danau Girang Field Centre in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary.

A programme that focuses specifically on nocturnal primates in Kinabatangan is currently running since 2010 at the field centre involving researchers from local and international universities.

Alice Miles of Cardiff University said the female tarsier, with an offspring, was caught, collared and released on March 8.

"It will be interesting to follow the behaviour of the mother and her offspring, and document maternal care in the species. This is very exciting."

The slow loris was discovered on March 16, according to Saroto Payar, a research field assistant at Danau Girang.

Danau Girang director Benoit Goosens said the programme was funded by the Columbus Cleveland and Phoenix Zoos of the United States.

"Little is known about the nocturnal primates in Borneo and this project will provide valuable information on their behaviour and ecology in degraded forests."

Information compiled by the researchers would help the state better protect its wildlife habitat, added Goosens.

Rare primates spotted with their infants in Sabah jungles
Ruben Sario The Star 26 Mar 12;

KOTA KINABALU: Wildlife researchers have made a pleasant discovery in the jungles along Sungai Kinabatangan in Sabah’s east coast.

A tarsier and a slow loris which were caught before being released in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary, have become mothers.

Researchers from the Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC) feel the development will enable them to learn more about some of the smallest and shiest primates there.
Mum’s the word: Boss and her offspring, a few days after being collared; and the tarsier carrying her baby in her mouth.

DGFC director Benoit Goosens said the discovery would provide researchers with opportunities to study the maternal patterns of these animals.

“Little is known about the nocturnal primates in Borneo and this project will provide valuable information about their behaviour and ecology in degraded forests,” he said here yesterday.

The capture of the tarsier and slow loris, which were fitted with radio collars, was part of the Kinabatangan Nocturnal Primate Programme that began in March 2010.

Cardiff University student Alice Miles, who was leading the programme at DGFC, said the tarsier collared on March 8 was found to be pregnant.

“While tracking her the following week, she was observed with a tiny offspring. The baby was thought to be no more than a few days old,” said Miles, adding that by following their development and behaviour, researchers could document maternal care in the species.

On March 16, DGFC researchers caught a slow loris – nicknamed Boss – and fitted it with a radio collar before releasing the primate.

“When we found her sleeping site five days later, we were surprised to see her resting with an infant among the vines. The infant was possibly a few months old,” said research assistant Saroto Payar.

“We believe that she had hidden her offspring when she went hunting for insects. She had been very nervous during the collaring. We now know why. She was worried about the infant she left behind,” said Saroto.

Four such primates – three tarsiers, including two females, and one slow loris – have been captured as part of the research initiative funded by the Columbus, Cleveland and Phoenix zoos in the United States.