Reports

Program No.18-065

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

HUFFMAN, Michael Alan

2nd Febriary,2007 - 1st March,2007

In order to up-date the current information on the status of Sri Lanka's 4 primate species (slender loris, hanuman langur, purple-face langur, toque macaque) I continued efforts in the collection of nation wide questionnaire in collaboration with my Sri Lankan counter parts. We also selected national parks and other places in areas particularly scant in detailed information about these primates to conduct on-site observations and fecal sample collection. 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. After completion of this work, I traveled to Bangalore, India, visiting the National Institute of Advanced Studies and the National Centre for Biological Studies- Datta Institute of Fundamental Studies and exchanged information and presented two lectures to members of these institutions. Together with my local counterpart, Prof. Anindya Sinha and his student we traveled to Bandipur National Park in the south and observed bonnet macaques, a close genetic relative of Sri Lanka's toque macaque.

1. Research assistants Ms. Nadeera (far left) and Ms. Tarindi,
 our driver Mr. Ruwan and Mike Huffman at the entrance to Horton Plains National Park.

2. Toque macaques in the mountains above Dambulla, Sri Lanka.

3. Bonnet macaque and spotted deer along roadside in Bandipur National Park, India.

4. Prof. Anindya 'Rana' Sinha and Mike Huffman at bungalow in Bandipur NP .

HOPE Project<>