Endangered monkey found in South Kalimantan

9/9/2007

PELAIHARI, South Kalimantan : Some 60 endangered nasalis larvatus, locally known as Bekantan, have been found in Asam Asam forest in Tanah Laut (Tala) regency, South Kalimantan, a local forestry agency official said Sunday.

Chairman of the South Kalimantan chapter of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA), Siswoyo, described the finding of the albino monkeys last month by his researchers as incredible.

The population of nasalis larvatus in the regency has been dwindling due to aggressive mining.

"The finding of around 60 bekantan monkeys, which like to live together in isolated places, is very encouraging," he said.