The diversity and conservation status of snakes in the eastern part of PT GAN, Riau Province

Abstract

PT Global Alam Nusantara (GAN) is one of the ecosystem restoration concessions in the Kampar Peninsula managed by Riau Ecosystem Restoration (RER). Unlike other companies under RER, information on the diversity of snake species in PT GAN is not yet available. Therefore, this study aims to determine the diversity and status of snake species in the eastern part of PT GAN based on the distance to water sources (river and rivulet); and the status of snakes based on Minister of Environment and Forestry Regulation (P.106/MENLHK/SETJEN/KUM.1/12/2018, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Conventional of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Observations were made using the Visual Encounter Survey (VES) method on four observational transects. We found 16 individuals representing 11 species, namely: Ahaetulla prasina, Boiga jaspidae, Boiga cynodon, Boiga drapiezii, Coelognathus flavolineatus, Dendrelaphis caudolineatus, Dryocalamus subannulatus, Lycodon subcintus, Sibynophis melanochepalus, Tripodolaemus wagleri, and Calliophis bivirgatus. Shannon-Wiener snake diversity index from highest to lowest, respectively, were 1.5, 1.39, 0.94, and 0. The Sorensen similarity index between transects was low. All snake species found are unprotected, with low-risk IUCN status, and have not been included in the CITES appendix.