A FAUNAL SURVEY OF THE DIENG MOUNTAINS, CENTRAL JAVA, INDONESIA - DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION OF ENDEMIC PRIMATE TAXA

A faunal survey was conducted in May-September 1994 and June-July 1995 in the Dieng Mountains, one of the last remaining larger patches of f orest in Central Java province, Indonesia. All three primate species e ndemic to the Javan faunal region - Javan gibbon Hylobates moloch, gri zzled leaf monkey Presbytis comata and ebony leaf monkey Trachypithecu s auratus - were found to be present. Hylobates moloch occurs only in the lowland and hill forests in the western part of the study area, wh ile the other two species were found throughout the area from lowland to montane forests. Although more research needs to be done on habitat preferences and densities at which the primates occur, the available data suggest that the Dieng Mountains may harbour the second largest p opulations of both H. moloch and P. comata in the same location. In or der to safeguard these two endangered primates it is suggested that th e reserve system in Java be expanded to include the Dieng Mountains.