Author : Djuwantoko

Summary : A survey conducted from December 1988 to December 1989 showed that six types of habitats in teak forest plantation were used by the Silver Leaf Monkey (Semnopithecus auratus). Each habitat type had its own characteristics, structure and composition of vegetation which was distinguished from the other in terms of use by the Silver Leaf Monkey. Among all the habitat types, the gallery forest was the most favored habitat by the Semnopithecus auratus troop. The troop size was 8 to 10 animals and the population density was about 0.0162 animal per hectare. Decline in their population resulted from the recent habitat destruction, predation and hunting. Home range size was about 32 ha during the rainy season and 43 ha in the dry season. Day-length travel ranged from 110 to 1150 m in the rainy season and 190 to 1015 m during the dry season. The Semnopithecus auratus troop spent more time in resting than in other activities during the day. This troop fed mainly on leaves, with the leaf petioles of teak leaves as the most preffered. Three sleeping sites were observed during the rainy season, and one during the dry season. All of these sleeping sites were in the gallery forest habitat type. Other fauna in the study site such as: the Emerald dove (Chalcohaps indica), fruit-eating dove (Macropegia melian), little green pigeon (Treron oxyura), parrot (Psificula alexandri), yellow-bulbul (Pycnonotus goiavier), crested bulbul (Pycnonotus caver aurigaster) could be considered as food competitors of the Silver Leaf Monkey. The success of management depends highly on the basic investigations of this species which could be conducted in future research. Teak forest is deemed compatible with wildlife, particularly that of the Silver Leaf Monkey.