144 Briefly ASIA & OCEANIA
NewCaledonian dugongs now listed as Endangered The global population of the dugong Dugong dugon is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, but in 2022 the New Caledonian subpopulation was listed as Endangered as it is particularly fragile and shows a low resilience potential. The subpop- ulation is small, with less than 900 mature in- dividuals, is geographically and genetically isolated and has the lowest level of genetic di- versity amongst dugong populations global- ly. The primary threats to dugongs in New Caledonia are poaching and injuries fromcol- lisionswith boats. The degradation and loss of seagrasses is also a major problem, resulting from agricultural run-off, pollutionfromnick- el mining and coastal development, and dam- age fromboat
anchors.The impacts of climate change present a threat throughout the spe- cies’ wide range. This new listing highlights the precarious conservation state of the New Caledonian subpopulation and its high risk of local extinction, calling for urgent action. Source: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (2023)
iucnredlist.org/species/ 218582754/218589361
Rare bird rediscovered in Papua New Guinea after 140 years The black-naped pheasant pigeon Otidi- phaps insularis, last spotted 140 years ago, has recently been sighted in Papua New Guinea. Local hunters have reported occa- sional sightings since it was last documented by scientists in 1882, but in recent decades there have been fears that it may have be- come extinct. However, new footage cap- tured by scientists on a month-long exped- ition proved that the bird, which is only found on Fergusson Island, still exists in the wild. The island is mountainous with thick forest, making the search difficult. A research team previously tried and failed to find the bird in 2019. But thanks to a local hunter who reported hearing the bird’sdis- tinctive call, 12 camera traps were placed in a remote location and an image of the birdwas captured. The expedition was supported by American Bird Conservancy and the Search for Lost Birds, a collaboration be- tween BirdLife International, American Bird Conservancy and Re:wild that was formed in an effort to find 10 bird species that have not had confirmed sightings in over a decade. Source: Euronews (2022)
euronews.com/ green/2022/11/22/like-finding-a-unicorn- rare-bird-lost-to-science-for-140-years- rediscovered-in-papua-new-g
Unsustainable fishing to be banned in Irrawaddy dolphin sanctuary A threatened population of Irrawaddy dol- phins Orcaella brevirostris in Indonesia is set to benefit from a ban on unsustainable fishing gear in a key stretch of river. The Bornean population of the species is found in theMahakamRiver, of which an upstream watershed spanning 42,668 ha has now been declared a conservation area. This will limit shipping traffic, but will allow some fishing. The fisheries ministry is working with con- servationists to draw up a management plan for sustainable fishing, prohibiting destruc- tive practices that have been identified as a threat to the dolphins and other wildlife. This includes seeking to ban using a particu- larlydamagingtypeofgill net known as rengge, electrofishing, poison fishing and monopolizing fisheries. TheMahakampopu- lation of Irrawaddy dolphins is estimated to comprise just 80 individuals and is consid- ered Critically Endangered. NGOs working on the project have emphasized that fishers support the establishment of the conservation area and the proposed ban on the destructive gear, but will need assistance to switch to more sustainable fishing devices, such as traps, cages and longlines. Source: Mongabay (2022)
news.mongabay. com/2022/12/unsustainable-fishing-to-be- banned-in-irrawaddy-dolphins-bornean- sanctuary
Good news for Javan rhinoceroses as two new calves are born New images and videos captured by camera traps in Ujung Kulon National Park con- firm the new arrival of two Javan rhino- ceros calves in Indonesia. With fewer than 80 individuals left, every birth is of huge importance. All remaining individuals live within this one park, protected and moni- tored by dedicated teams. Rhino Protection Units patrol the Park and its coastal waters to support the conservation of the rhi- noceros and other threatened species. Javan rhinoceroses are notoriously difficult to observe, but the Rhino Protection Units are trained in finding their tracks and signs, and record all information gathered on their patrols. Between January and June 2022, they discovered more than 70 foot- prints, 20 wallows, eight piles of faeces and 18 feeding sites within the Park. These signs, alongside 140 cameras placed in strategic positions around the Park, have helped teams to gain knowledge about the species’ behaviour, and also enabled them to find out about the two new arrivals. Source: Save the Rhino International (2023)
savetherhino.org/asia/indonesia/good- news-for-2023-two-more-javan-rhinos
Quolls released in Australian sanctuary Ten Endangered eastern quolls Dasyurus vi- verrinus have been released into the 400-ha BarringtonWildlife Sanctuary in New South Wales, Australia. The species was once com- mon across eastern Australia, but was deci- mated by feral cats and foxes and declared extinct in mainland Australia in 1963,with the only extant wild population being found in Tasmania. Aussie Ark, an Australian con- servation charity, has successfully bred and rewilded the eastern quoll for over 5 years. A thorough health check was carried out on each individual before release, including weighing, assessment of body condition and medication to protect the animals frompara- sites and disease. The newly released indivi- duals add vital genetic diversity to the population already living in the Sanctuary. Source: Aussie Ark (2022)
aussieark.org.au/ quoll-releasebws
Critically Endangered langurs threatened by motor traffic In December 2022, twomale Raffles’ banded langurs ended up as roadkill along the Seletar Expressway in Singapore. The carcasses were found less than 24 hours apart, reducing the population of the Critically Endangered spe- cies to only 73 individuals. According to re- searchers, these deaths are particularly con- cerning because it means that the popula- tion’s gene pool has become even smaller and less diverse, resulting in more inbreed- ing. The smaller gene pool could result in re- duced fertility, greater vulnerability to dis- eases, genetic disorders and higher infant mortality. A post-mortem examination sug- gests the langurs were attempting to cross the road from forested areas in Lentor to Springleaf, possibly in search for females or because of disturbances to their habitat. Conservationists say more mitigation mea- suresare needed,suchasroad signsremind- ing drivers to drive carefully near forests, not- ing thatitwas notalwaysfeasible toinstall rope bridges or other habitat links. Source: The Straits Times (2022)
straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/ 2-critically-endangered-raffles-banded- langurs-found-dead-along-sle-population- here-drops-to-73
All internet addresses were up to date at the time of writing. The Briefly section in this issue was written and compiled by Emma Sinnett, Julia Hochbach and Martin Fisher, with additional contribu- tions from Claire Garrigue and Andie Ang. Contributions fromauthoritative pub- lished sources are always welcome. Please send contributions to oryx@fauna-flora. org.
Oryx, 2023, 57(2), 139–144 © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Fauna & Flora International doi:10.1017/S0030605323000121
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