SINGAPORE – The critically endangered Raffles’ banded langur – whose population here is now largely confined to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve – has been spotted in Bukit Timah Nature Reserve for the first time in nearly 40 years.
An adult male was spotted and photographed at the summit of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve about 9am on May 31, according to a biodiversity record published on July 31 in the peer-reviewed journal Nature In Singapore.
According to the paper, the observation represents the first photographic evidence of the species’ return to that nature reserve in nearly 40 years, presumably via the Eco-Link@BKE or the Rifle Range Flyover.
The primate is currently listed as globally critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. There are about 70 to 80 of this species in Singapore now, said primate expert Andie Ang, in response to The Straits Times’ queries. She is one of the two authors of the July 31 article.
Following the death of the last Raffles’ banded langur (Presbytis femoralis) in the Bukit Timah reserve in 1987, its population was long restricted to the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, the Nature In Singapore report read.
However, in recent years, langurs have begun venturing into areas outside the Central Catchment reserve, it noted.
According to the report, the langur – which has black fur and white bands – was spotted on May 31 in the trees and moved off after 10 minutes.
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