Reports

Program No.18-004

Primate census and comparative socio- ecology of toque macaque sub species in the wet and dry zones of Sri Lanka.

Nahallage, Charmalie AD

6th January,2007 - 20th March,2007

From 7 January to 4 February, I worked at the University of Sri Jayawardenepura analyzing questionnaires returned so far by undergraduate students in my department. Also I went to the library and collected literature on primates from historical Buddhist literature. I also conducted a preliminary survey of the distribution of the purple-faced langur in Colombo district by direct observation and by asking fellow colleagues in the university whom live across the district.Between 5 and19 Feb., I started the extensive field survey with Prof. Michael Huffman and two local counterparts, Ms. K.M.P. Nadeera (officer, Department of Wildlife) and Ms. W. Tharindi (graduate in Anthropology, Univ. Sri. Jayawardenepura). We visited 12 sites in the western, southern and central provinces of Sri Lanka known to contain many primate populations. We left Colombo on 5 February for Bundala National Park in the south. There between 5 and 7 Feb., we observed toque macaques and gray langurs. Between 7 and 9 Feb. we visited four temple complexes: Vadasitikanda, Sellakataragama, Kataragama and Situlpawwa. Here we collected fecal samples from troops of toque macaque and hanuman langur when encountered. From 9 to 12 Feb. we stayed in Yala NP and conducted surveys and collected fecal samples from toque macaques and hanuman langurs. We next moved north to Udawalawa NP and stayed there between 12 and 14 Feb. were we again observed toque macaques and hanuman langurs. From 14 Feb. we moved further north to the highlands of Horton Plains NP, the highest national park in Sri Lanka. Between 14 to 17 Feb. we conducted surveys on the high-altitude sub-species of purple faced langur (bear monkeys). On 18 Feb. we visited the Kandy City suberbs, Udawatta Kele Nature Sancturay and the Peradeniya Botanical Gardens to collect toque macaque fecal samples and conduct questionnaires on local residents. On 19 Feb. we visited Dambulla in the north central part of the island site to collect toque macaque fecal samples. This temple complex is a World Heritage site.Prof. Huffman returned to Japan on 25 Feb. From 20 Feb. to 17 March I visited University of Sri Jayawardenepura to conduct preliminary studies on two troops of the lowland sub-species of purple faced langurs ranging on the campus grounds and nearby neighborhood. I followed them and collected fecal samples and took photos when ever possible. I left Colombo for Nagoya on 18 March arriving back in Nagoya via Singapore on 20 March.

1. Charmalie Nahallage (R), Tareendi (M), Nadeera (L) 
observing a mother - infant pair of toque macaques
 in Yala National Park, southern Sri Lanka.

2. Purple faced langurs in forest outside of Pattipola, Sri Lanka at the foot of Horton Plains NP.

3. Toque macaque (center) resting among a troop of hanuman langurs in the shade
 in Bundala National Park, Sri Lanka.

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