Abstract
Riparian forests serve as crucial habitats and daily activity corridors for mammal species, providing refuge and natural pathways amidst anthropogenic activities. This study employed camera traps from February to July 2023 along the Mangun River in West Sumatra, Indonesia, with the objective of investigating the use of riparian forests by mammals. The survey identified 20 mammal species, including 19 wild and 1 domestic species, which highlights the presence of significant and globally protected mammals. Notable species recorded include the Sumatran hairy-nosed otter, Eurasian otter, and small-clawed otter. The relative abundance index (RAI) indicated that rodents (8.36), long-tailed macaques (7.45), Asian small-clawed otters (3.50), and pig-tailed macaques (3.49) exhibited the highest activity levels. The observed activity patterns exhibited considerable variation, with diurnal behavior observed in macaques, nocturnal behavior in rodents, and cathemeral behavior in Asian small-clawed otters. These findings underscore the importance of riparian forests in maintaining mammalian biodiversity and ecological corridors, particularly in fragmented landscapes impacted by oil palm plantations. It is imperative that conservation efforts prioritize these habitats in order to support the diverse and threatened mammal populations.