Short Communication

First estimates of primate density and abundance in

Siberut National Park, Mentawai Islands, Indonesia
M A R C E L C . Q U I N T E N , F I F I N N O P I A N S Y A H and J . K E I T H H O D G E S

Abstract In  we carried out the first systematic survey to the IUCN Red List (IUCN, ). The pig-tailed langur is
determine the density and abundance of endemic forest pri- among the  most threatened primates (Mittermeier
mates in Siberut National Park, in the Mentawai Islands of et al., ).
West Sumatra, Indonesia. Distance sampling was employed Regardless of their conservation status, there is a dearth
to survey  transects located systematically throughout the of reliable information on the size of the region’s primate
Park, yielding a total survey effort of  km and  obser- population, which is essential for effective management
vations of primates for data analysis. From density estimates and conservation planning. The few publications that have
for the four resident primate species, the Siberut langur presented population estimates for the Mentawai Islands are
Presbytis siberu, the pig-tailed snub-nosed langur Simias typically species-specific (e.g. Tilson, ; Whittaker, )
concolor, Kloss’s gibbon Hylobates klossii and the Siberut and/or base their estimates on geographically restricted data
macaque Macaca siberu, we extrapolated a total population (e.g. Waltert et al., ; Quinten et al., ). Significantly,
of c. , primates within the Park. We conclude that there is a lack of data from the archipelago’s only protected
Siberut National Park is of major significance for the contin- area, Siberut National Park, located on the largest and
ued survival of Siberut’s endemic primates, and provide re- northernmost of the four islands. Formally declared in
commendations to help ensure that it will continue to , the Park covers .% of Siberut (Fig. ) and comprises
function as a refuge for primates. predominantly evergreen primary lowland rainforest
(.%; M. Quinten, unpubl. data). Unlike many of
Keywords Hylobates klossii, line-transect survey, Macaca
Indonesia’s protected areas, Siberut National Park was de-
siberu, Mentawai Islands, population density, Presbytis si-
signed to contain human settlements. It is subdivided into
beru, Siberut National Park, Simias concolor
three land-use zones (sanctuary, traditional use and park
village) and there are at least , inhabitants in the park
village zone (PHPA, ), which is the least restricted. As
T he Mentawai Island primates are a unique community
of sympatrically occurring, endemic species of the
c. , km (BPS, ) Mentawai Archipelago in West
with many government-established parks and reserves, pro-
tection and enforcement within the Park are hampered by
Sumatra, Indonesia. On the four main islands (Siberut, staff members’ lack of knowledge and training in wildlife
Sipora, North Pagai and South Pagai) six species (Roos ecology and conservation management, and by insufficient
et al., ) coexist: the Siberut macaque Macaca siberu, funding. Thus, despite its .-year history and its potential
the Pagai Island macaque Macaca pagensis, the Siberut lan- importance as a refuge for primates, no systematic surveys
gur Presbytis siberu, the Pagai langur Presbytis potenziani, have been carried out within the Park boundaries and
the pig-tailed snub-nosed langur Simias concolor, and consequently no data on primate density and abundance
Kloss’s gibbon Hylobates klossii. Threatened mainly by are available.
anthropogenic hunting and habitat loss (commercial log- Following on from surveys of primates in the north of the
ging, agriculture), all six species are considered to be in de- island, outside the National Park (Waltert et al., ;
cline (Whittaker, ). They are categorized as Vulnerable Quinten et al., ), the Siberut Conservation
(M. siberu), Endangered (P. siberu (as P. potenziani siberu) Programme established a collaboration with the Siberut
and H. klossii) or Critically Endangered (P. potenziani (as National Park Authority, Green Siberut Association, and
P. potenziani potenziani), M. pagensis and S. concolor) on UNESCO to carry out surveys within the Park. Our aims
were to provide the first systematic and reliable estimates
of primate density and abundance in the Park, extend the
MARCEL C. QUINTEN (Corresponding author) and J. KEITH HODGES Reproductive existing dataset on primate population sizes in the
Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Kellnerweg 4, Goettingen 37077, Mentawai Islands, and provide training in primate survey
Germany, and Siberut Conservation Programme, Pola Mas, Padang 25122,
Indonesia. E-mail marcel.quinten-dpz@gmx.de
methodology and data analysis for staff of the National
Park Authority and affiliated organizations in the region.
FIFIN NOPIANSYAH Siberut National Park Office, Padang, West Sumatra,
Indonesia We organized a -day workshop (− May ), dur-
Received  August . Revision requested  November .
ing which participants received in-depth training in theor-
Accepted  December . etical (e.g. survey design, general methodology) and

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2 M. C. Quinten et al.

primate observations by transect, and analysed each species

separately using both visual and acoustic observations. We
truncated the data to estimate the detection function g(x)
and the cluster (group) size (Table ); we determined cluster
size using the size bias regression method, regressing ln(clus-
ter size) against the estimated g(x).
By surveying all  transects – times we achieved a total
survey effort of  km, yielding  detection events for the
four primate species on Siberut (Table ): S. concolor (),
M. siberu (), P. siberu () and H. klossii (). Presbytis si-
beru was the most abundant primate, and based on a density
of c. . individuals per km (c. . clusters per km) we
estimate the total population in the Park to be , indi-
viduals. We modelled a density of . individuals per km
(c. . clusters per km) and a total population of c. ,
individuals for Siberut’s other colobine, S. concolor. The es-
timated densities of H. klossii and M. siberu were . and
. individuals per km (c. . and c. . clusters per km),
respectively, yielding population estimates of c. , gib-
bons and , macaques (Table ). Collectively, this indi-
cates a population of c. , primates within the Park.
However, as our survey transects were located almost ex-
clusively in primate habitat (e.g. primary and swamp forest),
leaving non-suitable habitat underrepresented (c. –% of
the Park area, including bare land and agricultural areas;
M. Quinten, unpubl. data), this number may represent a
slight overestimation.
FIG. 1 Locations of  closed-circuit transects, within a Given that no other systematic survey of primates has
systematic-random sampling grid, used to survey the four been conducted in Siberut National Park we cannot com-
endemic primate species in Siberut National Park in the pare our results with earlier information, or comment on
Mentawai Islands, Indonesia. The rectangle on the inset indicates population changes over time. A comparison with the
the location of the main map in Indonesia.
only available population estimates for the whole island
(Whittaker, , largely based on WWF, ; Table ),
practical (e.g. equipment handling, transect cutting) aspects however, suggests that a substantial proportion of the popu-
of primate population surveys. We then assigned successful lations of all four primate species occurs within the Park,
participants to one of seven teams and sent them to the field emphasizing its conservation importance for the region’s
to conduct distance sampling surveys (Buckland et al., , primates. It also indicates that P. siberu and S. concolor are
) of primates at two or three of a total of  closed- considerably more abundant on Siberut than Whittaker
circuit transects (length per transect , m), located ac- () suggested (our estimates for the Park are c. .–
cording to a random vector grid (Fig. ). The survey design times higher than those of Whittaker for the entire island).
represented the best possible solution taking into account Given the Park’s comparatively high abundance of pri-
logistical difficulties (no roads, remoteness, difficult terrain) mates, and considering that () the Park covers almost
and available resources (time, manpower, budget). half of Siberut Island, () the areas outside the Park are lar-
All teams conducted daily survey walks during times of gely production and conversion forest, and () there is little
peak primate activity (c. .–. and .–.), and remaining forest (and thus primate habitat) on the three
recorded standard survey data (cf. Quinten et al., ). southern Mentawai Islands, we conclude that Siberut
Using a laser range finder, perpendicular distances were National Park represents the most important habitat for pri-
measured from the transect line to the centre of all counta- mates in the Mentawai region. To successfully fulfil its func-
ble individuals of each primate cluster; when primates were tion as a refuge, the Park administration will need to address
detected acoustically the perpendicular distance to the esti- two main challenges. Firstly, encroachment associated with
mated location was measured. All teams returned to main- human population growth (cf. PHPA, ) continues to
land Sumatra in June  to attend a workshop, where we have a negative impact on primate populations in the
analysed all data using DISTANCE v. . (Thomas et al., Park, principally in terms of habitat loss and hunting
). For this purpose we pooled individual surveys and (Quinten et al., ). Secondly, inadequate funding and

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TABLE 1 Species-specific survey results for the primates inhabiting Siberut National Park, Indonesia (Fig. ), and previous estimates for Siberut Island as a whole (Whittaker, ), with the
analysis parameters, mean encounter rate, size and density of primate clusters, detection probability, mean density estimate for individuals, and estimated population.

Pig-tailed langur Siberut macaque Mentawai langur Kloss’s gibbon

Simias concolor Macaca siberu Presbytis siberu Hylobates klossii
Analysis parameters*
c (m) 50 62 60 56
w (m) 115 94 100 93
nt 52 79 95 59
na 48 43 77 49
nvisual/acoustic 45/3 32/11 62/15 41/8
Analysis results
Mean encounter rate for clusters, km−1 (95% CI) 0.25 (0.17–0.38) 0.22 (0.13–0.39) 0.40 (0.28–0.57) 0.26 (0.17–0.39)
Mean cluster size (95% CI) 3.0 (2.4–3.8) 3.2 (2.2–4.6) 2.4 (2.0–2.8) 2.7 (2.1–3.4)
Mean cluster density, km−2 (95% CI) 2.8 (1.3–4.6) 1.8 (1.0–3.2) 4.4 (2.9–6.8) 2.4 (1.5–3.8)
Detection probability (95% CI) 0.38 (0.28–0.51) 0.68 (0.52–0.89) 0.46 (0.34–0.61) 0.58 (0.45–0.74)
Mean density, individuals km−2 (95% CI, CV) 8.5 (5.0–14.5, 27.2) 5.6 (2.8–11.1, 35.2) 10.4 (6.6–16.5, 23.1) 6.3 (3.7–10.6, 26.5)
Estimated population size (range), Siberut National Park 14,112 (8,252–24,133) 9,248 (4,639–18,438) 17,384 (11,014–27,439) 10,484 (6,206–17,713)
Results of Whittaker (2005)
Estimated population size (range), Siberut Island 10,750 (6,000–15,500) 23,500 (17,000–30,000) 5,550 (1,600–9,500) 19,500 (18,000–21,000)
*c, truncation distance for cluster size estimation; w, truncation distance for density estimation; nt, total number of observed clusters; na, number of clusters used for data analysis after truncation; nvisual/acoustic, ratio of
visual versus acoustic observations

Primates in Siberut National Park

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4 M. C. Quinten et al.

levels of training in wildlife management, together with a B U C K L A N D , S.T., P L U M P T R E , A.J., T H O M A S , L. & R E X S T A D , E.A.
fragile relationship between the Park authorities and some () Design and analysis of line transect surveys for primates.
International Journal of Primatology, , –.
of its resident communities, compromise the effectiveness
IUCN () IUCN Red List of Threatened Species v. .. Http://
of the Park in achieving its conservation objectives. www.iucnredlist.org [accessed  August ].
We advise the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry to in- M I T T E R M E I E R , R.A., S C H W I T Z E R , C., R Y L A N D S , A.B., T AY LO R , L.A.,
crease funding for the Park, to ensure adequate human re- C H I O Z Z A , F., W I L L I A M S O N , E.A. et al. (eds) () Primates in Peril:
sources to support the enforcement of its statutes on a local The World’s  Most Endangered Primates –. IUCN/SSC
Primate Specialist Group, International Primatological Society,
level and to improve staff training in conservation manage-
Conservation International & Bristol Conservation and Science
ment. Greater emphasis needs to be placed on outreach ac- Foundation, Bristol, UK.
tivities to foster closer interaction and cooperation between PHPA () Siberut National Park Integrated Conservation and
Park management and the resident communities, raising Development Management Plan (–). Volume I: Current
local awareness of the value of Siberut’s rainforest habitat Conditions and Evaluation. Chemonics International in association
and the importance of a sustainable approach to resource with PT. Indeco Duta Utama and PT. Nadya Karsa Amerta, for
Ditjen Perlindungan Hutan dan Pelestarian Alam, Departemen
utilization. Finally, we recommend that further research Kehutanan, Jakarta, Indonesia.
be carried out, specifically () studies to examine the socio- Q U I N T E N , M.C., S T I R L I N G , F., S C H WA R Z E , S., D I N AT A , Y. & H O D G E S ,
economic needs of the Park’s inhabitants, and assess their J.K. () Knowledge, attitudes and practices of local people on
impact on the land, () time-series land-cover assessments Siberut Island (West-Sumatra, Indonesia) towards primate hunting
to determine rates of deforestation/habitat loss, and () and conservation. Journal of Threatened Taxa, , –.
Q U I N T E N , M.C., W A LT E R T , M., S Y A M S U R I , F. & H O D G E S , J.K. ()
long-term monitoring of population trends in the Park
Peat swamp forest supports high primate densities on Siberut Island,
(with surveys every – years); ideally this would be comple- Sumatra, Indonesia. Oryx, , –.
mented by surveys outside the Park in Siberut’s production R O O S , C., B O O N R AT A N A , R., S U P R I AT N A , J., F E L LO W E S , J.R., G R O V E S ,
forest/timber concessions. C.P., N A S H , S.D. et al. () An updated taxonomy and
conservation status review of Asian primates. Asian Primates
Journal, , –.
Acknowledgements T H O M A S , L., L A A K E , J.L., R E X S TA D , E., S T R I N D B E R G , S., M A R Q U E S , F.
F.C., B U C K L A N D , S.T. et al. () Distance .. Release . Research
We thank all partners (the Siberut National Park Authority, Unit for Wildlife Population Assessment, University of St. Andrews,
the Siberut Conservation Programme, Green Siberut St. Andrews, UK. Http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/distance/
[accessed  August ].
Association, and UNESCO) for their invaluable efforts in
T I L S O N , R.L. () Social organization of Simakobu monkeys (Nasalis
planning, coordinating and funding the project, specifically concolor) in Siberut Island, Indonesia. Journal of Mammalogy, ,
Mr Jusman, Ms Pio, Ms Acha De La Presa and Dr –.
Matthias Waltert. We thank the Rufford Foundation, the W A LT E R T , M., A B E G G , C., Z I E G L E R , T., H A D I , S., P R I A TA , D. &
Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and the H O D G E S , J.K. () Abundance and community structure of
Mentawai primates in the Peleonan forest, north Siberut, Indonesia.
Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for financial
Oryx, , –.
support, and the Indonesian Institute of Sciences for provid- W H I T TA K E R , D.J. () New population estimates for the endemic
ing the necessary research permits. Finally, we thank the Kloss’s gibbon (Hylobates klossii) on the Mentawai Islands,
members of the dedicated survey teams who made this Indonesia. Oryx, , –.
project possible, including the National Park employees W H I T TA K E R , D.J. () A conservation action plan for the Mentawai
primates. Primate Conservation, , –.
Ridho, Dedet, Kusmiadi, Efrinaldi, Matheus and Badul,
WWF () Saving Siberut: A Conservation Master Plan. WWF
the Green Siberut Association staff Yoyok and Silvanus, Indonesia Programme, Bogor, Indonesia.
the SMILE-team Fabianus, Ronal and Hamdi, Bogor
Agricultural University students Dani and Yandhi,
Darmanto from UNESCO, and Siswanto from R&D Forestry.
Biographical sketches
References M A R C E L C . Q U I N T E N is a conservation biologist working with the
German Primate Center and the Siberut Conservation Programme
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Tuapejat, Sumatra, Indonesia. Siberut National Park Authority and is conducting doctoral research
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