Grensgebergte and Kasikasima, Suriname

Conservation

• Africa

  • Kihansi Spray Toad
  • Kinangop Grassland, Kenya
  • Ankaratra Massif, Madagascar
  • Lake Bisina-Opeta and Lake Nakivale-Mburo Wetland System, Uganda
  • Bakossi Mountains, Cameroon
  • Mount Oku, Cameroon
  • Mount Nganha, Cameroon
  • Mount Manengouba, Cameroon
  • Atewa Plateau, Ghana
  • KwaZulu Natal Coast, South Africa
  • Amatola Mountains, South Africa

• Asia

  • Morningside and Knuckles Mountains, Sri Lanka
  • Me Linh Station for Biodiversity, Vietnam

• Australasia

  • Manus Island, Papua New Guinea

• Central America

  • Sierra Caral, Guatemala
  • Massif de La Hotte, Haiti
  • Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
  • Caribbean Marine Reserve, Guatemala
  • Cerro San Gil, Guatemala
  • Laguna Brava, Guatemala
  • Laguna Grande, Guatemala

• South America

  • Uraba Rainforest, Colombia
  • Chocó Conservation Corridor, Colombia
  • El Dorado Reserve, Colombia
  • Beni Savannas, Bolivia

Exploration

• Africa

  • Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique

• Australasia

  • Hindenburg Wall, Papua New Guinea

• South America

  • Grensgebergte and Kasikasima, Suriname

• Southeast Asia

  • Xe Sap National Protected Area, Lao PDR

Research

• Southeast Asia

  • Kouprey

From March 8 – 29, 2012, Global Wildlife Conservation’s Director of Global Biodiversity Exploration, Dr. Leeanne Alonso, led a group of over 50 scientists and explorers to explore the remote rainforests of the Grensgebergte and Kasikasima mountains in South-eastern Suriname in northern South America. Dr. Alonso worked with Conservation International’s Suriname Program to coordinate a team of 16 scientists, 29 local Amerindian field assistants, government wildlife rangers, journalists and film-makers for an exciting and productive three-week expedition. The RAP (rapid assessment program) survey was funded by the Suriname Conservation Foundation through a grant to Conservation International-Suriname.

The RAP survey provided scientists with the rare opportunity to explore a totally unstudied and unique mountain range. To our knowledge, the mountains of the Grensgebergte (Border Mountains) have never been studied or even explored by scientists. The local Amerindians occasionally travel up the Palumeu River and walk over the border to Brazil but few ever enter the Grensgebergte Mountains. The elevation and forest types within the southeastern Suriname mountains range from lowland floodplain forest to isolated mountain peaks at over 780 m elevation (see map). The Tapanahony River flows in a wide floodplain within the Grensgebergte but the river is shallow and difficult to navigate by boat. Thus the only way to enter the mountains is to cut a new trail and enter on foot, or to enter by air. The first step for this RAP survey was to identify rocky outcrops in the mountains from satellite imagery where a helicopter could possibly land.

The Kasikasima Mountain is a unique formation that rises over 700 m above the rainforest. It has over twelve peaks of steep granite outcroppings. While the METS tourism company takes adventurous tourists to the rock, there have not been many studies of the biodiversity of the area. The mountain has a trail that allows access up to about 500 m within the forested side of the mountain.

The results of the expedition will be used to promote conservation of South-eastern Suriname, which remains an extensive intact tract of primary rainforest but will be threatened in the near future by the development of roads, railroads, gold mining, and hydro power dams. The ultimate goal is the creation of a corridor of forest linking protected areas in Brazil with the Central Suriname Nature Reserve in order to maintain connectivity for wildlife and ecological processes.

The results will also serve to raise awareness among the Surinamese and global public and governments about the importance of conserving these rare and unique vast pristine rainforests before they are all lost to us forever.

The RAP scientific team of 16 scientists, accompanied by a journalist and photographer from National Geographic Magazine, two game wardens from Nature Conservation Division, and a medic flew from Paramaribo to Palumeu on March 8. Prior to the biodiversity survey, an advance team of 21 men from the Amerindian villages of Apetina (Wayana) and Palumeu (Trio and Wayana) along with staff from Conservation International-Suriname and local film-makers led a 10 day reconnaissance mission to locate and set up the first RAP base camp. Nine additional men from Palumeu and staff from Conservation International-Suriname joined the team at the second RAP Site (Kasikasima).

The team included:

Leeanne E. Alonso, PhD (RAP Team Leader, Ants)
Global Wildlife Conservation, USA

Olaf Bánki, PhD (Plants)
Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, Netherlands

Chequita Bhihki, MSc (Plants)
Netherlands Centre for Biodiversity Naturalis, Netherlands

Krisna Gajapersad, BSc (Large Mammals)
Conservation International – Suriname

Rawien Jairam (Reptiles and Amphibians)
National Zoological Collection of Suriname

Gwendolyn Landburg, MSc (Water Quality)
National Zoological Collection of Suriname/Center for Environmental Research

Trond Larsen, PhD (Dung Beetles)
Rapid Assessment Program, Conservation International

Burton K. Lim, PhD (Small Mammals)
Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, Canada

Jan Mol, PhD (Fishes)
CELOS, Suriname

Piotr Naskrecki, PhD (Katydids)
Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, USA
Global Wildlife Conservation

Stuart Nielsen, MSc (Reptiles and Amphibians)
Department of Biology, University of Mississippi, USA

Brian J. O’Shea, PhD (Birds)
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, USA

Serano Ramcharan (Birds)
Suriname

Andrew Short, PhD (Aquatic Beetles)
Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity Institute
University of Kansas, USA

Arioene Vreedzaam, MSc (Primates)
ADEK, Suriname

Kenneth Wan Tong You (Fishes)
CELOS, Suriname

Additional RAP Team Members

Priscilla Miranda (Coordination)
Conservation International – Suriname

Ted Jantz (Videographer and expert Fisherman)
Media Vision, Suriname

Rafael Jantz (Videographer)
Media Vision, Suriname

Andre Semmie (Tree Spotter)
Conservation International – Suriname

Jeffrey Krimbo (Camera Trapping and Plants)
Conservation International – Suriname

Hermando Banda (Small Mammals)
Conservation International – Suriname

Priscilla Dragtenstein (Game Warden)
LBB/NB Nature Conservation Division, Suriname

Fabian Lingaard (Game Warden)
LBB/NB Nature Conservation Division, Suriname

Richard Conniff (Journalist)
Connecticut, USA

Randy Olson (Photographer)
Pennsylvania, USA

Russell A. Mittermeier, PhD (President)
Conservation International, USA

Richard Sneider, PhD (RAP Supporter)
Los Angeles, CA, USA

Fabian Oberfeld (RAP Supporter)
Los Angeles, CA USA

Jeffrey Kapor (RAP Supporter)
Los Angeles, CA USA

Field Guides

From Apetina
Malasi Ukili
Johan Neni
Hendrik Neni
Lesly Kawaidoe
Sipali Metteli
Pensaman Ukili
Saloman Koemapu
Gilbert Koemaja
Rene Koemapa
Eipu Ajamako
Jula Meliwa
Jakop Ikoewa
Alamoike Ukili
Matija Koemapu
Richard Kawaidoe
Lucien Meliwa

From Palumeu
Vincent Wedije
Remigio Mitian
Atei Arekawa
Kelomeu Nailoepum
Michael Ankarapi
Jaka Tawaike
Sosi Makainoe
Tapo
Keesi
James Akinare
Pajanoe
Alakoeng
Patrik
Masoe

Site 1. Upper Palumeu River (Juuru Camp)
N 2.47700, W 55.62941
Elevation 277 m asl.
9-18 March 2012

The first camp was situated on the left bank of the Upper Palumeu River. This place is known as the boat landing or ‘Tiyaring’ (Trio) for the trail to Brazil and is used by the Amerindians of Palumeu and Apetina as a temporary campsite (Juuru Camp). The camp was situated in seasonally flooded forest, which was unmistakingly proven when the camp flooded on the 17th and 18th of March. During our stay in this camp it rained almost every day and part of days.

The Upper Palumeu River is a meandering river. The Upper Palumeu River is situated in a hilly landscape in which the valleys have been filled with erosion material (loamy and sandy substrate). The river cuts its way through the eroded sediment. In the valleys of the hilly landscape ‘palm swamps’ can occur, and in the river bends ‘swamp vegetation and swamp wood’ can be found. Most aquatic sampling was done within the Upper Palumeu River, and the creeks of its tributary.

On top of the hills ‘high dryland forest on granite hills’ occurs which is intersected with large granite boulders. Rocky places with species typically found in open rock vegetation were also found in the forest. Most terrestrial collecting was done along a trail that went up from the camp to a hill of 417 meters above sea level, and along the trail to Brazil. Our sampling trail to Brazil passed through ‘seasonally flooded forest’, ‘secondary forest’, ‘high dryland tropical rain forest’, ‘swamp forest’, ‘bamboo forest’, and ended at a large waterfall. The secondary forest patch, which was an abandoned agricultural field, was cut open to serve as a helipad.

Site 2. Grensgebergte Granite Rock
N 2.46554, W 55.77034
Elevation 790- 820 m asl.
12 - 18 March 2012

The second camp was a small satellite camp based on top of a granite mountain within the Grensgebergte at an elevation of 790 to 820 meters above sea level. This mountain peak was one of the highest points of the Grensgebergte observed. It could only be reached by helicopter, and was approximately 16.5 km from the helipad of base camp 1. The mountain was pre-selected by using a landscape classification based on Landsat imagery and by flying over the area in a small Cessna airplane a few months in advance of the RAP. The helicopter landed on the rock on a quite open spot with low shrubs.

The Grensgebergte is a mountain range of rolling mountains with steep granite rock faces. The name Grensgebergte literally means ‘border mountains’. The mountains are covered with forest and only a few mountain peaks have places with open rocks. On the mountain a mosaic of vegetation types could be found. At the slopes we observed bare rocks with seeping water with carnivorous water plants forming ideal habitats for water beetles. The occurrence of carnivorous plants indicates the low nutrient status that some of these micro-habitats have for plants. Patches of cyper grasses and bromeliads with orchids and gesneriads could be found on the slopes as well. We observed a tortoise of 30-40 cm long in wet patches surrounded by cyper grasses and small herbs on the mountain plateau. On top of the mountain peak some areas were covered with low shrub vegetation. We also observed a low savannah forest with mosses, potentially formed by moisture from low hanging clouds. Most of the mountain peak was covered by a mixture of savannah forest and medium sized dryland forest on granite hills. A small flowing creek was spotted between two large ridges on lower elevation. Due to logistical constraints both the forest and the creek could not be properly assessed in terms of species composition.

Site 3. Makrutu Creek
N2.793311, W 55.367445
Elevation 240- 260 m asl.
18- 21 March 2012  

The third camp was situated at the junction of the Upper Palumeu River and the Makrutu Creek. Only the fish, plant, and water quality RAP teams visited this camp by boat from the first camp. The first stretch of the journey the Upper Palumeu River was frequently meandering with many trees growing in the river bends. Almost the entire river was associated with seasonally flooded forest accompanied by overhanging tree branches above the water. From the point onwards where the Tapaje Creek was flowing into the Palumeu River the meandering got less and the river banks of the Palumeu River became steeper. The steep banks were covered with ‘high dryland tropical rain forest’. On less steep spots we observed swamp forest, swamp wood and swamp vegetation.

Rapids occurred close to the junction with the Makrutu Creek. The camp was situated on rocks within the rapids just downstream of the junction with the Palumeu River and the Makrutu Creek. On top of these rocks a mixture could be found of open rock vegetation dominated by bromeliads, low savannah forest and secondary forest. The meandering Makrutu Creek is accompanied by swamp vegetation, swamp wood, and seasonally flooded forest. Most collecting took place upstream of the Palumeu River from the Makrutu camp, along the Tapaje Creek, and along the Makrutu Creek.

Site 4. Kasikasima camp
N2.97731, W 55.38500
Elevation 201 m asl.
18-28 March 2012  

Part of the team that did not join RAP Camp 3 were transferred from the first camp by helicopter to a small settlement called Kampu along the Palumeu River on the opposite of the river from the Kasikasima Mountains. On the 20th of March the RAP teams moved into the camp that was built on the opposite side of the Palumeu river from the settlement of Kampu. The fish, plant, and water quality RAP teams joined the group at this camp on the 21st of March.

On the journey from the Makrutu camp to the Kasikasima camp we crossed two major rapids where the boats had to be unloaded and pulled. Within these rapids large forested rocks occurred. The forest on top of these rocks can be classified as savannah forest, with some species very typical for open rock places. The rapids contain open rock vegetation with seeping water and some carnivorous plants similar to the vegetation that was found on the granite mountain (site 2) on much higher elevation. Steep banks also occurred along the Palumeu River.

The camp was situated along the river where large rock formations were found in the forest and into the river creating a large relatively shallow rapid. Savannah forests occurred along the river and on top of the hills where the parent rock reaches the surface of the soil. From the river bank a landscape of undulating granite hills started instantly. These granite hills were covered with ‘high dryland forest on granite hills’. Creeks, with palm swamps and some creek vegetation and forests could be found in the sharp gullies between the mountains. Large trees occurred on the slopes. Closer to the Kasikasima Mountains, the amount of large boulders in the landscape increased. Low (dry) savannah forest with palms intersected now and then by a creek, could be found on the Kasikasima Mountain. The savannah forest on top of the Kasikasima Mountain (ca. 510-790 m asl.) was dominated by mosses, bromeliads, and ferns, which indicates frequent moist conditions due to low hanging clouds. The open rock vegetation on this mountain was similar to that of the Grensgebergte, dominated with bromeliads, orchids, and gesneriads.

Preliminary results of the RAP survey are outlined below. Full reports can be viewed in the preliminary report.

Water Quality
The creeks of the Palumeu River have lower oxygen levels (1.72 -7.93 mg/L) than the river (5.58-7.34 mg/L) mainly due to the lack of rapids in the creeks and high input of nutrients from the forest (phosphate: max 0.13 mg/L; ammonia: 0.09 mg/L). Both creeks and river have clear water (max turbidity: 11 NTU, which was measured after rain). The water quality data indicate undisturbed conditions for all creeks and river sites. Additional analyses for metals (aluminum, iron and mercury) are still needed to confirm this. The strong meandering aspect of the upstream Palumeu River was not expected for the origin of the Palumeu River. 

Plants
We collected a total of 608 plants during the RAP, including 433 fertile and 175 sterile plants. The majority, 264 plants, with more than half sterile collections, was collected in the surroundings of Kasikasima site 4. At site 1 (188 plant collections), on the Grensgebergte site 2 (69 plant collections), and at Makrutu site 3 (75 plant collections) we collected mostly flowering and fruiting plants. We also collected 9 plants in Palumeu.

We found two new tree species for Suriname so far, Solanum semotum and Hirtella duckei. This shows how unexplored the forests in South Suriname are. We also observed several rare species. We encountered three tree species on the IUCN Red List, namely Minquartia guianensis (Lower Risk (LR)/near threatened), Syagrus stratincola (Vulnerable B1+2c), and Vouacapoua americana (Critically Endangered). We also encountered one tree species, Manilkara bidentata, which is protected by Surinamese law against felling.

The preliminary results of four 0.1 ha plot inventories showed the tree alpha diversity of the forests showed relatively high values for Suriname. This suggests that the forests in the South of Suriname are quite diverse. Forest in the South of Suriname may differ in species composition from areas further north, and our findings do not support a view that forests in the central and south of Suriname are one uniform forest.

We found many rare species and unique habitats in this area especially on the rocky outcrops along the rapids and at higher elevations at the Grensgebergte and the Kasikasima Mountains. Further analyses of the results might further stress the conservation value of these areas.

Aquatic Beetles
In total, more than 45 genera of aquatic beetles were found. A conservative estimate for the number of species stands at 98, but this will likely grow once samples can be processed in the lab. Based on field identifications, at least 5 genera are undescribed, although all are also known from Venezuela and/or the Kwamalasumutu RAP. Similarly, field identifications suggest at least 15 undescribed species, although more are likely.

Sites 1 and 4 had somewhat similar estimated numbers of genera, with 31 and 36 respectively The increase in genera at Site 4 can be at least partly attributed to the rock seep taxa found on the rocks at Kasikasima itself. Rock seepages and related hygropetric habitats were the only aquatic habitats present at Site 2, which resulted in the much lower raw taxonomic diversity with only 9 genera.

The lowland fauna (excluding the rock outcrops), at a glance, seems similar to that found in the Kwamalasamutu region. Some taxa that were frequently found at Site 1--including the genera Megadytes and Berosus—were not found at other camps, nor collected on the Kwamalasamutu RAP. By far the most significant result of the expedition was the discovery of large Myxophagan communities at sites 2 and 4. This represents the first known collection of the families Hydroscaphidae and Torridincolidae in Suriname.

Dung Beetles
Dung beetles were sampled using baited pitfall traps and flight intercept traps in the Grensgebergte Region of southeastern Suriname. Although many of the samples still need to be processed, about 70 dung beetle species are estimated, which represents high diversity for the region. Approximately 10% (~7 species) are probably new to science, but require further study. Dung beetle diversity and biomass was highest at the Upper Palumeu site, which probably reflects the extensive intact forest and low hunting pressure with no people living nearby. Dung beetle diversity at Kasikasima was also high, but lower beetle biomass probably reflects mild to moderate hunting of large mammals and birds in the region. Nonetheless, all sites studied were characterized by relatively high dung beetle diversity, biomass, and endemism, including several rare species, demonstrating the high biodiversity value of the region.

The dung beetle fauna of the Grensgebergte region is relatively similar to the Kwamalasamutu region, and richer than most other lowland forests of Suriname and the Guianas, containing a mix of range restricted endemics, Guiana Shield endemics, and Amazonian species. The high abundance of several large-bodied dung beetle species in the region is indicative of the intact wilderness that remains. These species support healthy ecosystems through seed dispersal, parasite regulation and other processes. Maintaining continuous primary forest and regulating hunting (such as through hunting-restricted reserves) in the region will be essential for conserving dung beetle communities and the ecological processes they sustain.

Ants
Preliminary observations on the ant fauna indicate a diverse fauna typical of lowland humid rainforest of the Guiana Shield, with at least 100 species likely to be identified in the samples, which have yet to be examined in detail. Genera typical of the region including many large ants that were commonly seen in the forest, including the arboreal species Daceton armigerum, Cephalotes spp., and Camponotus spp., the large-eyed terrestrial Gigantiops destructor, and several species of army ants. Many species within the ant tribe Dacetini were collected in leaf litter, indicating good primary forest. Species of the genera Pheidole, Pachycondyla and Odontomachus were commonly observed.

Katydids
The abundance of katydids encountered during this survey was low compared to that typically encountered in lowland Neotropical forests. This may be related to the fact that the two main sampling sites (Juuru Camp and Kasikasima Camp) were located in seasonally inundated forest, thus limiting the number of species associated with the forest floor and the lower layers of the forest’s understory. It is likely that most of katydid diversity at these sites is concentrated in the forest canopy, a habitat difficult to sample without either direct access to it or the canopy fogging.

At least 50 morphospecies of katydids were recorded during the survey. This number, however, is very preliminary and based entirely on field identifications. Once the specimens are physically examined, it is likely that more species will be found in the samples. Of the four sampling sites, the Kasikasima Camp had the highest number of species (33) followed by the Juuru Camp (29 species); additionally, 5 species were recorded in the Palumeu Village, and 4 species were collected on the Grensgebergte. In addition to physically collected specimens, sound recordings of a yet unknown number of katydids were also made.

Fishes
Preliminary results revealed 86 fish species in the Palumeu River at the three collection sites, 59 species at the Upper Palumeu River site, 14 species at the Makrutu Island site, and 35 species at the Kasikasima site. The relatively low number of species collected can probably be attributed to the high water level in the main stem of the river that prevented sampling the rapids at the Makrutu Island and Kasikasima sites. Catfishes (e.g. Loricariidae, Doradidae, Corydoras spp.) are thus conspicuously underrepresented or even absent in the species list. The electric eel, known to occur in the Palumeu River, was also not collected or observed.

We collected many large-sized specimens of large-sized species, attesting to the healthy fish populations in the Palumeu River. Some of the species we collected at the Upper Palumeu and Kasikasima sites may be new to science, e.g. Hypessobrycon sp. blackline, Hyphessobrycon sp. half-black-line-black caudal spot, Bryconops sp. red-fins and Ituglanis sp. Fish species collected during this expedition that are known to be endemic for the Marowijne River are: Cyphocharax biocellatus, Semaprochilodus varii, Jupiaba maroniensis, Tometes lebaili, Bunocephalus aloikae, Aequidens Palumeuensis and Kryptolebias sepia.

The fish populations of the Palumeu River seem to be in good condition as attested by the large number of large-sized fishes that was collected during the present study, including top-level piscivores. Many of the fishes of the Palumeu River may be of interest to the aquarium hobby. We recommend that an aquarium in be set up in Palumeu village with fishes of the Palumeu River, for the viewing of both visiting ecotourists and the people of Palumeu and neighboring villages (Apetina, Tepu). This will increase understanding of the fish fauna of Palumeu River and thus presumably promote conservation of the aquatic habitat and the fish fauna.

Reptiles and Amphibians
The RAP team recorded an estimated 40+ species of amphibians and 40+ species of reptiles. None of the specimens collected appeared vastly different morphologically, and thus obviously novel species, but two frogs stand out as requiring further morphological investigation (e.g. Anomaloglossus sp. and Hysiboas sp.). Furthermore, the snail-eating snake (Dipsas copei) is potentially a new record for Suriname, and an amphisbaenian (Amphisbaena sleveni) is recorded for just the second time. The total number of amphibians encountered is comparable to previous RAP surveys in Suriname, although many more reptiles were encountered than during the most recent (2010) RAP survey of Kwamalasamutu. Encountering more than 80 total species (including >20 snakes) is evidence for a healthy, diverse and seemingly pristine forest ecosystem.

Birds
Birds were surveyed using line transect counts and casual observation in lowland forest around the Juuru and Kasikasima camps. A limited survey using mist nets was undertaken in high-elevation (800 m) savanna forest and scrub in the Grensgebergte. The list of 313 species includes all birds seen or heard at the two RAP camps, the high-elevation satellite camp, the village of Palumeu, and during excursions along the Palumeu River. Records of several species represent range extensions within Suriname and the Guiana Shield. Whereas the lowland forest avifauna was broadly similar at the different localities, the high-elevation savanna forest harbored several species not known to occur in the adjacent lowlands, and therefore had the most unique species assemblage of any site. RAP results indicate that the lowland forest of SE Suriname probably contains the vast majority of bird species known to occur in the country’s interior, including many species of high conservation value.  We recommend further surveys of high-elevation sites in the Grensgebergte and other mountain ranges in southern Suriname, to better determine the range limits of species restricted to high-elevation forests.   

Small Mammals
In total, preliminary field identifications documented 40 species of small mammals represented by 366 individual captures. More specifically, 28 species of bats were represented by 345 individuals, 9 species of rats and mice were represented by 18 individuals, and 3 species of opossums were represented by 3 individuals.  In addition, a gray four-eyed opossum (Philander opossum) was seen climbing up a tree in a swampy area on the trail to Kasikasima Mountain. The commonest species of bat (larger fruit-eating bat, Artibeus planirostris) represented over 1/3 of the total captures in mist nets. It was more than twice as frequently caught as the next most abundant species (moustached bat, Pteronotus parnellii) and were documented at all three sites as were two other species (Seba’s short-tailed fruit bat, Carollia perspicillata, and round-eared bat, Lophostoma silvicolum). 

The Upper Palumeu site was the most diverse for bats but the Kasikasima site had a higher abundance of bats. In contrast, the Grensgebergte site had the highest species diversity and relative abundance for rats. Each of the three sites documented only one species of opossum represented by one individual. There were three individuals of a rat collected at Grensgebergte that were not readily identifiable based on the available keys for mammals of the Guianas. Until further study of the morphology and molecular variation can be done to positively identify this species, it appears to represent at least a new country record for Suriname.

Large and Medium Sized Mammals
We surveyed medium- and large-bodied mammals by means of three main methods: camera trapping, searching for scat and animal tracks, and making visual and aural observations. During the RAP we recorded 18 species of medium- and large-bodied mammals. Primates are not included in this number.  We recorded 11 mammal species at the Grensgebergte site and 15 species at the Kasikasima site.

The large caviomorph rodents were the most frequently photographed by the camera traps; this group appears to be the most common group of medium- and large-bodied nonvolant mammals in the area. The rodent species most frequently photographed by the camera traps were Paca (Cuniculis paca), Red-rumped Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina) and Red-acouchy (Myoprocta acouchy). Two species of peccary and two species of armadillo were also recorded.
Of the six species of cats known to occur on the Guiana Shield, the Jaguar (Panthera onca), Puma (Puma concolor), Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and Margay (Leopardus wiedii) were found during the survey. Ocelot was the most frequently recorded cat species during this survey and is common in the area. Tracks and scratch marks of Jaguar were found at the Grensgebergte site.

Primates
Six of the eight Suriname monkey species were recorded during the RAP survey: the Black Spider Monkey, Red Howling Monkey, Brown Capuchin, Squirrel Monkey, Golden Handed Tamarin, and Bearded Saki. The White Faced Saki and the Wedge Capped Capuchin were not spotted at either site.

Preliminary results indicate that the large bodied species (Black Spider Monkey, Red Howling Monkey) are present in relative abundance. They were either spotted or heard on a regular basis at both sites. Since these two species are the most hunted by local communities (pers. comm.), this indicates sustainable hunting practices by these communities. The absence of the Bearded Saki, White Faced Saki, and Wedge Capped Capuchin at the Grensgebergte site does not necessarily mean that they are not present. These three species are quite difficult to spot due to rarity and elusiveness. The Bearded Saki however, was spotted once at the Kasikasima site. More data need to be collected regarding these “missing” species. From a conservation perspective both sites can be considered to have healthy populations of monkey species.

Related Tags: suriname

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• 03/26/12 - Getting back- the adventure continued!
• 03/19/12 - RAP Site 4 - Kasikasima Camp
• 03/18/12 - Evacuation! and RAP Site 3
• 03/08/12 - RAP Sites 1 & 2- Upper Palameu Camp/Juuru Camp and Grensgebergte Mountain
• 03/06/12 - Advance Team prepares the way
• 03/01/12 - GWC joins CI-Suriname to explore the wilds of SE Suriname