| Concentrating on their presence in Borneo, the ecology and conservation of two large Southeast Asian primates, the orangutan Pongo pymaeus and the proboscis monkey Nasalis larvatus are reviewed. The former species occurs only in Borneo and Sumatra and the latter only in Borneo. The comparative threats facing these two endangered primates and their approximate numbers in the wild are put into perspective. The long-term survival of both species is adversely affected by the degradation and conversion of their suitable forest habitat by logging and agriculture, the occurrence of hunting, poaching and forest fires. The effectiveness of measures to conserve these species are discussed and evaluated from the standpoint of economics. It is concluded that informed... |
