Looking for a distraction from the perils of lockdown? Look no further, the next instalment of the BIAN Seminar Series 2021 is here! For our next seminar we are thrilled to welcome Sarah McGrath from our very own ANU Biological Anthropology research group. Sarah will be giving a talk entitled “Exploring the Impacts of Hunting and Logging on Endangered Gibbons and other Primates in Veun Sai- Siem Pang National Park, Cambodia.” This presentation is Sarah’s PhD Exit seminar, so it would be great to have lots of the SOAA family there to help cheer her on as she gets near to that finish line! Please see the attached poster for more information and join us at 4pm on Thursday the 19^th of August (AEST) via Zoom to learn more about this fascinating topic!  Registrations free and open to all: https://anu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IUEvVEuRSHim_BiSdjM_XA

Approximately 60% of primate species are threatened with extinction globally due to hunting and habitat loss. Six confirmed primate species inhabit Veun Sai-Siem Pang National Park (VSSP) in Cambodia. Local people in the surrounding villages rely on the national park for food, traditional medicine, and income. Illegal logging frequently occurs in the park and in recent years there has been an increase in primate hunting. However, the hunting pressure on primates in the park and the impacts of logging on the recently described endangered gibbon Nomascus annamensis are unknown. Semi- structured interviews were conducted with local people in five villages surrounding VSSP to determine which primates are most hunted. Additionally, auditory sampling methods and vegetation survey were used to investigate the impact of logging on the density of gibbons in the park. This presentation discusses the results of this research and uses these findings to demonstrate the importance of continued research into the threats facing primate populations in VSSP.

Sarah McGrath completed a Master of Science (Zoology) degree at the University of Melbourne in 2014 and commenced a PhD in Biological Anthropology at the Australian National University in 2017. She has extensive experience volunteering with primates.