Proboscis monkey population in Mount Kentawan rises to 102
Banjarmasin (ANTARA) - The South Kalimantan Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) has recorded an increase in the proboscis monkey population at Mount Kentawan Nature Reserve, Hulu Sungai Selatan Regency, from 46 individuals in 2013 to 102 in 2026.
Head of BKSDA South Kalimantan Agus Ngurah Krisna confirmed on Monday that the significant increase demonstrates the endemic species’ habitat remains well preserved.
“The latest monitoring found eight groups of proboscis monkeys inhabiting the Mount Kentawan Nature Reserve area, with the number of individuals in each group ranging from two to 22,” he said.
According to him, the presence of proboscis monkeys at Mount Kentawan is an important finding because the species, typically associated with swamp forests, mangroves, and riverbanks, has been able to adapt and breed in a mountainous area dominated by karst ecosystems and dipterocarp forests.
“Mount Kentawan Nature Reserve is one of the monitoring sites for mountain proboscis monkey habitats in South Kalimantan. Population monitoring is carried out periodically as a conservation effort and to evaluate the condition of wildlife habitats in the area,” he said.
In their daily activities, the proboscis monkeys at Mount Kentawan move from one tree to another among cliffs and karst rocks. The animals utilise leaf shoots from the Ficus family, birik leaves, rubber leaves, and taun leaves as their main food sources available in their natural habitat.
Agus said the population increase over more than a decade indicates that the ecological function of the conservation area is still operating well, while also demonstrating the success of various sustainable habitat protection efforts.
He stressed that wildlife living in mountainous areas reflects the connection between landscapes and biodiversity. Mountain slopes serve as important habitats for various flora and fauna that have high conservation value and play a role in maintaining ecosystem balance.
“BKSDA South Kalimantan continues to encourage the protection of conservation areas, including Mount Kentawan Nature Reserve, to maintain the sustainability of wildlife habitats and ensure biodiversity is preserved for future generations,” Agus said.