Rapid Assessment of Non-Volant Mammals in Selected Areas of Peninsular Malaysia.

Abstract

Non-volant mammals in Peninsular Malaysia face numerous threats, primarily driven by habitat loss, fragmentation and illegal hunting. These threats highlight the importance of conducting wildlife surveys in the available forested areas to enhance the current strategies for conservation and management, particularly for a threatened taxon like non-volant mammals. This study aimed to document and update information of non-volant mammals from four areas: Tasik Bera (Pahang state); Tasik Kenyir, Pulau Redang and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) Campus (Terengganu state). Cage traps and Visual Encounter Survey methods were utilised to record non-volant mammals from August 2022 until March 2023. This study successfully documented 123 individuals from 27 non-volant mammal species, representing 11 families from 6 orders. Tasik Bera demonstrated the highest species count at 18, followed by UMT Campus with 6, while Tasik Kenyir and Pulau Redang each recorded 4 species. The species diversity was the highest at Tasik Bera (H' = 2.65) and the lowest at Pulau Redang (H' = 1.01). Macaca fascicularis, Tupaia glis and Paradoxurus hermaphroditus were recorded from three of four sites. This study has added new geographically recorded species for Tasik Bera (11 species) and UMT Campus (4 species). This study has advanced our knowledge of the diversity and distribution of non-volant mammals, enhancing our understanding in this field. This understanding is crucial for implementing efficient conservation and management strategies, aiding in the development of targeted conservation strategies to protect these species and their habitats.