Rare three-coloured langur spotted with offspring in Sarawak
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
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
13-07-2025
- New Straits Times
RM80bil import bill signals deep food system flaws
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's recurring food shortages and its soaring RM80 billion import bill point to deeper structural flaws in the country's food ecosystem, according to an academic at Universiti Malaya. Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Ibrahim, an associate fellow at the Ungku Aziz Centre for Development Studies, said these issues could be addressed through a collaborative innovation framework known as the quadruple helix (QH) model. The QH model, which brings together government, industry, academia and civil society, is being touted as a potential game-changer in building long-term food resilience and reducing Malaysia's dependence on external food sources. "Malaysia's food security woes, from chicken to egg shortages, are no longer isolated supply hiccups. They reflect systemic weaknesses in our ability to innovate, collaborate, and anticipate," he said in a commentary. Despite the numerous blueprints launched in recent years, he said progress remains limited, largely due to fragmented and siloed efforts. He believes that by embedding the QH approach, Malaysia could not only overcome its domestic food security challenges but also export homegrown solutions globally. Malaysia's food import bill reportedly neared RM80 billion, with recurring supply disruptions triggering price spikes and social unrest. The recent egg shortage, for instance, became a national flashpoint before the supply stabilised, albeit temporarily. Ahmad argues that sustained innovation through the QH framework could reduce such vulnerabilities by aligning the strengths of multiple sectors. Under the model, the government's role is to ensure policy stability, invest in infrastructure such as smart agriculture networks and offer incentives like research and development tax breaks. Industry players are expected to fund market-driven research and integrate technologies across supply chains, such as blockchain for food traceability. Academia should focus on both basic and applied research, particularly in areas such as gene editing for drought-resistant crops. Civil society can play a vital role in articulating grassroots needs, piloting local solutions and promoting inclusive innovation that benefits smallholder farmers. "Each sector compensates for the weaknesses of the others. If done right, the model transforms fragmented efforts into synergistic systems," Ahmad said. He also pointed to practical mechanisms that could fast-track collaboration. This includes regional innovation hubs, living labs in smart villages and artificial intelligence (AI)-powered matchmaking tools to connect startups with mentors and investors. To address barriers such as misaligned incentives and knowledge silos, he proposed shared key performance indices across sectors, hosting cross-sector secondments and using civil society groups as "trust brokers" to drive adoption among farmers. "Policies must also be dynamic. We need adaptive governance that evolves with technological shifts, like AI in agriculture and actively engages youth through innovation challenges and social entrepreneurship," he said. The goal, he added, is not just to become self-sufficient, but to eventually position Malaysia as a global food-tech innovation hub. "If we get this right, we won't just be solving our own food problems, we'll be exporting solutions," Ahmad said.
The Star
03-07-2025
- The Star
We need more experts in plant biodiversity, says academician
PETALING JAYA: Amid multiple threats to the survival of plant species in Malaysia, the country is facing a lack of experts to work on biodiversity, says Malaysian Ecological Association president Prof Dr Ahmad Ismail. There is an inadequate number of experts in this field, he said. He said this problem is rooted in the lack of funds to support research and development of new talents in the field of biodiversity. 'When we don't have enough people and money, it would also be difficult to do research, especially biodiversity work mostly in the field,' he said. Prof Ahmad added that while regional estimates report about 8,300 vascular plant species in Peninsular Malaysia and around 12,000 in Sabah and Sarawak, the national total is estimated at 15,000 due to significant species overlap across regions. 'For example, Mount Kinabalu in Sabah alone has recorded over 5,000 plant species, with 40% being endemic. 'This is about the richness of plants in Malaysia. But those are mostly old data that were studied by foreign scientists. "If we ratio plant species with our local botanists, the number is very low,' he said, urging for more to be done in recruiting young talents in biodiversity conservation. He also pointed out that while laws exist to protect Malaysia's natural resources, the lack of research and experts is concerning, especially given the country's uniquely diverse plant life. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, from 1998 until 2025, a total of 193 plant species in Malaysia were categorised as critically endangered, 423 as endangered and 841 as vulnerable. The Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS) database showed that at least 138 plant species in Peninsular Malaysia were identified as critically endangered, vulnerable or endangered. Among the critically endangered plant species are mersawa merah (anisoptera megistocarpa), berus mata buaya (bruguiera hainesii), keruing pipit (dipterocarpus fagineus) and merawan mata kuching merah (hopea ferruginea). Endangered species include bearded paphiopedilum (paphiopedilum barbatum), keladan (dryobalanops oblongifolia) and keruing bukit (dipterocarpus costatus). In the vulnerable category are chengal (neobalanocarpus heimii), agarwood (aquilaria malaccensis) and meranti pa'ang (shorea bracteolata). MyBIS is a one-stop repository database system, which provides and facilitates access to information on biodiversity studies and management in Malaysia under the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry. The data collection in MyBIS involved experts and research officers from government agencies, non-governmental organisations, research institutes and universities. Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president Meenakshi Raman said that deforestation and uncontrolled conversion of areas for commercial development continue to threaten the survival of plant species in Malaysia. She warned that if the forests are not protected, the important plant species will be gone forever. 'We have a National Biodiversity Policy and national biodiversity action plans but they mean nothing if they are not implemented with legal effectiveness and protection. 'States have the power to designate areas and forests to protect species but they often sacrifice them for timber, plantations and other commodities on the grounds that these are for income,' she said.
The Star
03-07-2025
- The Star
Vital to save M'sia's diverse flora
KOTA KINABALU: The plant kingdom isn't doing so well with at least 600 species facing extinction in Sabah alone. These species, which comprise flowering plants and trees, are under threat due to poaching and other human activities, says Sabah Forestry Department director Datuk Frederick Kugan. 'Besides pitcher plants, the other types of flora facing threats are trees and flowers,' he said. Kugan cited examples such as the dipterocarp (timber) which are being logged and harvested while high horticultural demand for exotic plants like pitcher plants and orchids means they are poached in the wild and sold in the black market. 'There is also habitat loss due to plantation expansion,' he said. He also spoke about a small distribution pattern which is being threatened by climate change, especially montane (mountainous) species, adding that this has also contributed to the decline of such species. Overall, he said, the species are categorised as 'threatened' under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list. The 'threatened' category is further divided into CR (critically endangered), EN (endangered) and VU (vulnerable). In fact, Kugan said that 10 species of CR plants had been marked as possibly extinct – anisophyllea impressinervia, ixora labuanensis, lasianthus subglobosus, melanochyla woodiana, praravinia gracilis, praravinia neriifolia, quercus pseudoverticillata, semecarpus angulatus, semecarpus sandakanus and syzygium badescens. The last seen photos of these tree species ranged from 45 to 148 years ago, Kugan said. 'Another possibly extinct species that was part of our conservation project for the last few years is the CR elaeocarpus pinosukii',' he said. ALSO READ: We need more experts in plant biodiversity, says academician He said that many search operations were mounted to locate this species at its locality, Pinosuk Plateau or Mesilau in Kundasang, but none had been found. Kugan said Pinosuk Plateau or Mesilau, as it is known today, is no longer a forest like it was 60 to 70 years ago (when the species was first collected) as most of these areas have been turned into vegetable farms. He said all these assessments are based on what have been published in the IUCN Red List. 'However, we have thousands of species that have not been assessed yet, especially the non-tree species,' he added. Kugan said that more research and conservation initiatives need to be taken to better protect these species and hopefully, prevent their extinction. 'There must be coordinated efforts between state agencies, private sectors as well as local communities to find solutions on how to reduce impact on flora and fauna with the development that is taking place,' he said. In March, Kugan revealed that the pitcher plant is under threat in Sabah, with seven species listed as threatened on the IUCN list. Pitcher plants, also known as monkey cups, have over 160 species worldwide, out of which 25 are found in Sabah. The world's largest pitcher plant, nepenthes rajah, is only found in Mount Kinabalu and its surrounding highlands. This species can trap not just insects but also small mammals like rats. An AFP report in March quoting the IUCN said that 'deforestation, farming and climate-fuelled fires are driving increasing threats to fungi, the lifeblood of most plants'. At least 411 fungi face extinction out of the 1,300 varieties, said IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species.
