845-HECTARE AREA IDENTIFIED AS HABITAT OF TRICOLOUR LANGUR TO BE GAZETTED AS PROTECTED FOREST

KUCHING, The Sarawak Forestry Department will gazette an area covering about 845 hectares at Sungai Selai Inah, Jemoreng, Matu, which is the habitat of the endangered Tricolor Langur monkey, as a protected area, said Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan. Awang Tengah, also the Second Minister of Natural Resources and Urban Development said the decision was made following the discovery that the area is the monkey's habitat during a scientific expedition. "The findings were published on March 27, 2024, in an international article, Check List the Journal of Biodiversity Data. The monkey species, scientifically known as Presbytis chrysomelas cruciger, has only been found in the Maludam National Park. "The unique monkey is categorised as a critically endangered species in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, and a protected species in the Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1998," he said when winding up the debate on behalf of the Natural Resources and Urban Development Ministry at the Sarawak State Assembly sitting today. Source: BERNAMA News Agency