Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 14058554

Ecological and Conservation Status of Sumatran Poorly-Known Endemic Rats

Sumatra are known as a home for 5 endemic rats, consisting of Maxomys hylomyoides, M. inflatus, Rattus korinchi, R. hoogerwerfii, and Mus crociduroides. Those species suppose to be sympatric, living in mountains area in Sumatra. Almost all of them are listed as data deficient in IUCN Redlist, except R. hoogerwerfi listed as Vulnerable. This endemic animals are highly threatened due to high deforestation in Sumatra.

The associated habitat is not only as living place for endemic rats but also for many exotic and threatened animals and plants in Sumatra. Moreover, climate change issues are known to be shifted many animals distribution up to the high elevation level in mountain area. We believed that any effort in protecting the associated habitat of the species we are working on, will both protect them and help many threatened animals and plants living in the same habitat. 

We therefore carried out research and conservation action to increase our understanding on 5 endemic rats in Sumatra which are mostly remain cryptic along with an effort to increase the survival of these incredible species. Our goal are to determine their distribution among mountains in Sumatra particularly in western part, to know the habitat they live in, and to increase public aweraness on these remarkable species by involving local villager in our study. 

Our study areas are in some mountains in western part of Sumatra, targeting Mt. Singgalang, Mt. Kerinci, and Mt. Tujuh. We will expand our field sites to any others mountain if possible. We have long term goal to survey some mountain in the northern and sourthern part of Sumatra to get better understanding on the distribution and population of endemic rats in Sumatra, and threat their face up. We strongly believed that adequate survey and enough amount of data as well as an effort to educate people will be the best way to bring this uncertainty animals from severity into continuity.