THE UTILIZATION OF TREES BY JAVAN GIBBON (HYLOBATES MOLOCH AUDEBERT, 1978) IN THE HALIMUN SALAK CORRIDOR

• Main Author: Arum Aniswari, Sekar
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/56959
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

The population of Javan gibbons is decreasing and is declared as endangered by the IUCN. The dynamics of habitat change for the Javan gibbon due to anthropogenic activities is a real threat to the preservation of the Javan gibbon in the wild. As one of the potential habitats for the Javan gibbon population to support its sustainability, the Halimun Salak Corridor (KHS) is also experiencing this threat. This study aims to identify the distribution of the Javan gibbon, describe the condition of the group composition of the Javan gibbon, and determine preferences for the utilization of tree species to support the daily activities of the Javan gibbon in KHS. The identification of the Javan gibbon was carried out using a rapid assessment method and its behavior was observed using a focal animal sampling method from January to February 2021. The proportion of used tree species based on the daily activities of the Javan gibbon will be used as a criterion for determining tree preferences. The results showed that Javan gibbon was identified along the corridor with a total of 33 encounters from observations in 2008 until 2021. The Javan gibbons identified in this study were in Cisarua, Cipicung, and Ciherang. Javan gibbon habitat conditions are limited by the presence of anthropogenic activities and shrubs. This condition causes the connectivity of the tree canopy to be disrupted and is thought to limit the dispersal of the Javan gibbon in the KHS. This also had an impact on the condition of the Javan gibbon group which was identified as a complete group in Ciherang and an incomplete group in Cisarua and Cipicung. Nine species of trees were identified as being used by Javan gibbons for their daily activities during the observation. Based on the criteria for determining tree preferences, Schima wallichii (36%) and Altingia excelsa (26%) were the two tree species preferred by the Javan gibbon to perform the daily activities observed in this study.