Research

What We Did

This wasn't your typical fieldwork. Over several weeks, I conducted boat-based surveys along 223 kilometers of the Kinabatangan River scanning the riverbanks for proboscis monkeys. But the real work was just beginning. I combined my new observations with historical data stretching back to 2005 and 2014, creating a two-decade timeline of population changes alongside populations at three key monitoring sites. Using sophisticated statistical models—state-space model & GIS—I analyzed not just monkey numbers, but also how land use and forest cover had changed across their potential habitat from 2005 to 2025.

Why It Matters

This research offers something rare in conservation: genuine hope. While proboscis monkeys remain endangered, our findings suggest that protection efforts in the Lower Kinabatangan are working. The stability and modest growth we documented likely reflect decades of conservation work—establishing protected areas, restoring degraded forest, and maintaining wildlife corridors.

But there's also a warning in these results. The fact that populations remained stable rather than booming tells us that the habitat can only support so many monkeys. Protecting every remaining patch of forest, and continuing to restore degraded areas, remains essential for their long-term survival.

For me, this project was a powerful reminder that conservation is a marathon, not a sprint. Two decades of monitoring—by multiple researchers across generations—allowed us to see the big picture. And that picture, while not perfect, is genuinely encouraging.

What We Did

Along the Menanggul River, a tributary of Sabah's Kinabatangan River, fecal samples from free-ranging proboscis monkey groups were collected. Back in the lab, we (led by Prof. Ikki) teamed up with parasite expert Dr. Liesbeth Frias to examine these samples under microscopes and identify any parasite eggs or larvae present. We then used Bayesian statistical models to explore whether factors like group size and habitat disturbance influenced infection rates by the parasites of the monkeys.

Why It Matters

Parasites are a normal part of ecosystem health, but changing conditions can upset the delicate balance between host and parasite. Proboscis monkeys are already endangered, and understanding how social factors and habitat disturbance affect their health gives conservation managers valuable insights. If larger groups or degraded habitats lead to higher parasite loads, these factors may need to be considered when planning protected areas or habitat restoration efforts.

This project was a fascinating glimpse into the hidden world of wildlife health—and a reminder that conservation isn't just about protecting habitat, but understanding the complex interactions that determine the animals' survivability.

What We Did

Every week, I followed the same group of langurs, carefully recording their behaviors and tracking their movements using GPS. My goal was to understand how these primates spend their time and whether younger monkeys behave differently from adults. Over the course of the study, I collected nearly 3,300 behavioral observations—1,716 from adults and 1,521 from juveniles.

Why It Matters

Understanding how wild primates use human-modified landscapes is increasingly important as development expands into natural habitats. This research shows that dusky langurs can adapt to areas with regular human activity, but also highlights which habitats they consider essential—information that can guide conservation efforts in Penang and beyond.