First DNA metabarcoding diet assessment on the critically endangered Tricolour Langur, Presbytischrysomelascruciger.

Presbytischrysomelascruciger or also known as the Tricolour langur-is rare, endemic to Sarawak and Kalimantan in Borneo and classified as a critically endangered subspecies. The current P.c.cruciger population size is uncertain because the numbers are continuously decreasing. At present, there is no comprehensive scientific report on P.c.cruciger in Sarawak, although this subspecies is known to inhabit Maludam area. Recent first sighting of P.c.cruciger in Jemoreng Sarawak presents a research opportunity to study its feeding from a molecular ecology perspective. Herein, we report the first findings on the dietary intake of P.c.cruciger using a high-throughput DNA metabarcoding approach. We emphasise the diet intake of P.c.cruciger from Jemoreng Protected Forest in Sarawak using DNA metabarcoding of the trnL region. Preliminary findings revealed 11 amplicon sequence variants (ASV) classified into one phylum, four classes, four orders, four families, three genera and three plant species. Fibraureatinctoria (akar kuning; Family Menispermaceae), Poikilospermumsuaveolens (akar jangkang; Family Urticaceae) and Litchichinensis (lychee; Family Sapindaceae) were the three main plant species that were consumed by P.c.cruciger. Understanding the dietary intake of P.c.cruciger is of paramount importance for their conservation and management of the habitat areas where their population resides.

First Bornean orangutan sighting in Usun Apau National Park, Sarawak.

Wildlife surveys were conducted in Usun Apau National Park (UANP), Sarawak from Oct 2017 to Oct 2020. This was the first attempt to document fauna diversity in Usun Apau National Park on the UANP plateau at 1200-1400 m a.s.l. On 17 September 2020, 10 AM, we observed an orangutan individual, Pongo pygmaeus, over a period of one minute at Libut Camp UANP (E: 114039'.546, N: 2052'36.44) at 1,020 m a.s.l. We also recorded four nests and orangutan vocalisation twice. This observation is important for Bornean orangutan conservation as this was the first orangutan sighting in UANP and well outside the species distribution range for in Sarawak.