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'Extinct' Monkey rediscovered
Picture: AP
Rare 'Miller's Grizzled Langur' rediscovered in Borneo

An expedition by an international team of scientists has found one of the rarest primates in Borneo, Miller's Grizzled Langur, alive and well in an area where it was not previously known. The species was previously believed to be extinct or in imminent danger of extinction after its only previously known habitat in the north-east of the island suffered badly from fires, human encroachment and the conversion of land for agriculture and mining. The team's findings were published in the American Journal of Primatology.

Miller’s Grizzled Langur (Presbytis hosei canicrus) is part of the small primate genus Presbytis, which is found across Borneo, Sumatra, Java and the Thai-Malay Peninsula. The team’s expedition took to them to Wehea Forest in East Kalimantan, Borneo, which is a large 38,000 hectare area of mostly undisturbed rainforest. Wehea contains at least nine known species of non-human primate, including the Bornean orang-utan and gibbon.

By conducting observations at mineral licks where animals congregate and setting up camera traps in several locations, the expedition confirmed that P.h canicrus continues to survive in areas west of its previously recorded geographic range. The resulting photos provide the first solid evidence demonstrating that the species' geographic range extends further than previously thought.

“Future research will focus on estimating the population density for P.h. canicrus in Wehea and the surrounding forest," said Brent Loken, from Simon Fraser University of Canada. "Concern that the species may have gone extinct was first raised in 2004, and a search for the monkey during another expedition in 2008 supported the assertion that the situation was dire."

“While our finding confirms the monkey still exists in East Kalimantan, there is a good chance that it remains one of the world’s most endangered primates. I believe it is a race against time to protect many species in Borneo. It is difficult to adopt conservation strategies to protect species when we don’t even know the extent of where they live. We need more scientists in the field working on understudied species such as Miller’s Grizzled Langur, clouded leopards and sun bears.” Dr Loken concluded.

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
New guidance for antibiotic use in rabbits

New best practice guidance on the responsible use of antibiotics in rabbits has been published by the BSAVA in collaboration with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWA&F).

The guidance is free and has been produced to help veterinary practitioners select the most appropriate antibiotic for rabbits. It covers active substance, dose and route of administration all of which are crucial factors when treating rabbits owing to the risk of enterotoxaemia.

For more information and to access the guide, visit the BSAVALibrary.