Coexistence between Javan Slow Lorises (Nycticebus javanicus) and Humans in a Dynamic Agroforestry Landscape in West Java, Indonesia
Abstract
In a world increasingly dominated by human demand for
agricultural products, we need to understand wildlife’s ability to
survive in agricultural environments. We studied the interaction
between humans and Javan slow lorises (Nycticebus javanicus) in
Cipaganti, Java, Indonesia. After its introduction in 2013, chayote
(Sechium edule), a gourd grown on bamboo lattice frames, became
an important cash crop. To evaluate people’s use of this crop and
to measure the effect of this increase on slow loris behavior,
home ranges, and sleep sites, we conducted interviews with local
farmers and analysed the above variables in relation to chayote
expansion between 2011 and 2015. Interviews with farmers in
2011, 2013, and 2015 confirm the importance of chayote and of
bamboo and slow lorises in their agricultural practices. In 2015
chayote frames covered 12% of land in Cipaganti, occupying 4%
of slow loris home ranges, which marginally yet insignificantly
increased in size with the increase in chayote. Slow lorises are
arboreal and the bamboo frames increased connectivity within
their ranges. Of the sleep sites we monitored from 2013 to 2016,
24 had disappeared, and 201 continued to be used by the slow
lorises and processed by local people. The fast growth rate of
bamboo, and the recognition of the value of bamboo by farmers allow persistence of slow loris sleep sites. Overall introduction of
chayote did not result in conflict between farmers and slow
lorises, and once constructed the chayote bamboo frames proved
to be beneficial for slow lorises.
Origin : Files produced by the author(s)
Licence : CC BY - Attribution
Licence : CC BY - Attribution