Confirmation of Skywalker Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock tianxing) in Myanmar Extends Known Geographic Range of an Endangered Primate

Pyae Phyo Aung1, Ngwe Lwin2, Tin Htun Aung1, Thura Soe Min Htike1, Carolyn Thompson3,4, Christian Roos5, Sa Myo Zaw1, L. Zawng Lum2, Win Naing Oo2, Zung Sau2, Samuel T. Turvey4, Wai Zinn Thein6, Min Thein Maw6, Ye Tun Win6, Zaw Min Oo7, Koen K. A. Van Rompay8, Kirsten V. Gilardi9, Alex Tremeu-Bravard9, Frank Momberg2, Peng-Fei Fan10, Susan M. Cheyne11, Tierra Smiley Evans9
1Nature Conservation Society Myanmar, Yangon, Myanmar
2Fauna & Flora International, Myanmar Programme, Yangon, Myanmar
3Genetics, Evolution and Environment, School of Life Sciences, University College London, London, UK
4Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
5Gene Bank of Primates and Primate Genetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen, Germany
6Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department, Yangon, Myanmar
7Myanmar Timber Enterprise, Yangon, Myanmar
8California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, USA
9Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, USA
10Sun Yat-Sen University, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China
11International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Section on Small Apes, East Sussex, UK

Tóm tắt

Characterizing genetically distinct populations of primates is important for protecting biodiversity and effectively allocating conservation resources. Skywalker gibbons (Hoolock tianxing) were first described in 2017, with the only confirmed population consisting of 150 individuals in Mt. Gaoligong, Yunnan Province, China. Based on river geography, the distribution of the skywalker gibbon has been hypothesized to extend into Myanmar between the N’Mai Kha and Ayeyarwaddy Rivers to the west, and the Salween River (named the Thanlwin River in Myanmar and Nujiang River in China) to the east. We conducted acoustic point-count sampling surveys, collected noninvasive samples for molecular mitochondrial cytochrome b gene identification, and took photographs for morphological identification at six sites in Kachin State and three sites in Shan State to determine the presence of skywalker gibbons in predicted suitable forest areas in Myanmar. We also conducted 50 semistructured interviews with members of communities surrounding gibbon range forests to understand potential threats. In Kachin State, we audio-recorded 23 gibbon groups with group densities ranging between 0.57 and 3.6 group/km2. In Shan State, we audio-recorded 21 gibbon groups with group densities ranging between 0.134 and 1.0 group/km2. Based on genetic data obtained from skin and saliva samples, the gibbons were identified as skywalker gibbons (99.54–100% identity). Although these findings increase the species’ known population size and confirmed distribution, skywalker gibbons in Myanmar are threatened by local habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation. Most of the skywalker gibbon population in Myanmar exists outside protected areas. Therefore, the IUCN Red List status of the skywalker gibbon should remain as Endangered.

Tài liệu tham khảo

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