Golden Langur: The Living Gold is Under Threat
-Dr. Arvind Singh
Golden Langur is an Old World monkey found in a small region of Western Assam in India and in the neighbouring foothills of the Black Mountains of Bhutan. It is also called as ‘Gee’s Golden Langur’ and ‘Golden Leaf Monkey’. Of the known 15 species of primates from India, 9 species are found in the state of Assam and the Golden Langur is one of them. The scientific name of Golden Langur is Trachypithecus geei which belongs to the Cercopithecidae family of primates.
Because of a serious population decline, Golden Langur is listed as ‘Endangered’ in the Red List of Threatened Species of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Endangered species are those species which are in danger of extinction and whose survival is unlikely if the causal factors continue to be operating. Their numbers have been reduced to a critical level or whose habitats have been so drastically reduced that they are deemed to be in immediate danger of extinction.
Distribution Range:
Golden Langur has a narrow distribution range. It is found only in North-eastern India and Bhutan. This primate species is confined to a forest belt in western Assam between the Manas River in the east, Sankosh in the west and Brahmaputra in the south along the Indo-Bhutan border. The distribution of Golden Langur in Bhutan is limited to the foothills of the Black mountains. The total range of this primate species in both India and Bhutan is less than 30,000 km.
Physical Characteristics:
The coat of adult Golden Langur ranges from creamy white to golden color, gaining a more reddish tinge in the winter season. On their flanks and chest, the hairs are darker and often rust colored. The body coat of new born infants varies from creamy white to pale in color which gradually turns into golden color. The skin color is black throughout life in both sexes. The Golden Langur has a black face.
The overall shape of this primate species is slim, with long limbs and tail. The tail has a tassel on the end and is notably larger in males than in females. Males are slightly larger than females. The head and body measures from 50 to 75 cm and the tail range from 70 to 100 cm. The weight of the Golden Langur ranges from 9.5 to 12 kg.
Habitat, Ecology and Behaviour:
Golden Langurs are shy species that avoid humans. They inhabit in mixed deciduous to semi-deciduous moist Sal forest with some riverine and savanna forest. This species experiences a considerable range in elevation of near sea level in the south to above 3,000 m. in the north. One isolated population is found in the Abhaya Rubber Plantation, Nayakgaon in Korkrajhar District of Assam.
Golden Langur generally occupies middle to a high canopy of the forest during foraging. Occasionally they are seen on the ground when there is a scarcity of food. They maintain a home range and explore the area for food and shelter. During the hot sunny days, they rest under the thick foliage of the trees while during the winter season they generally take a sun bath on top branches of the trees.
Golden Langurs are diurnal hence their activities are confined to light hours between dawn to dusk.
Golden Langur generally lives in troops of about eight individuals but sometimes up to 50 individuals with several females to each adult male. The smallest Golden Langur troop is composed of four individuals while the largest has 22 individuals. The adult gender ratio is 2.3 females to every male though the majority of groups have only one adult male.
Golden Langurs are vegetarian in nature. Their diet consists of ripe and unripe fruits, young and mature leaves, leaf buds, flower buds, seeds, twigs, and flowers. Although they eat a variety of food, they mostly prefer to eat young leaves. The main food tree species of Golden Langur include Terminalia bellerica, Terminalia crenulata, Cedrela Toona, Bombax ceiba, Amoora wallichi, Albizia lebbeck, Gmelina arborea, Dalbergia sissoo, Lannea grandis, Salmalia malbarica and Ficus benjamina.
Golden Langur breeds during winter and summer months. The infants are born in months of May and June in summer season and November to January in the winter season. A single infant is born at a time.
Threats to their Survival:
There is an estimated population of less than 1,500 individuals in India and around 4,000 individuals in Bhutan with less than 2,500 mature individuals globally. The population has declined by more than 30% in the last 30 years and expected to decline further in the near future.
Habitat loss due to deforestation has been the main threat to the survival of Golden Langur. Due to habitat loss, the population of this species has been restricted to fragmented forest pockets especially in India. A comparative analysis based on satellite images taken in 1988 and 1998 showed a 50% loss of original habitat in India for this species. Electrocution from power lines and hunting by dogs are local threats affecting the population of Golden Langur.
High juvenile mortality, inbreeding and local trade in live animals as pets and in road shows are the other threats to the survival of Golden Langur.
Conservation:
Golden Langur is a Schedule I species in the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972). This primate species has also been listed on Appendix I in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary and Manas Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam are the two protected habitats for this species in India. The following actions are needed for the conservation of Golden Langur in India.
1. To check the habitat loss of the species.
2. To regularly monitor the population of Golden Langur.
3. To rebuild the lost habitats of Golden Langur with the help of local residents.
4. To insulate or divert the electric lines passing through the habitats of Golden Langur.
5. To motivate villagers to restrain their dogs.
6. To strictly enforce the Indian Wildlife Protection Act.
Conclusion:
Conclusively it can be said that Golden Langur is a species of primate confined to a small pocket of north-east India and Bhutan is facing the threat of extinction chiefly due to habitat loss. Therefore it is an utmost need to conserve this species of monkey for the maintenance of biological diversity and ecological stability.
-X-X-X-X-X-
Dr. Arvind Singh is M. Sc. and Ph. D in Botany with an area of specialization in Ecology. He is an active Researcher having four dozen published Research Papers in the Journals of National and International repute. His main area of Research is Restoration of Mined Lands. However, he has also conducted Research on the Vascular Flora of Banaras Hindu University-Main Campus, India.keywords: gee's golden langur, golden langur iucn, golden langur in assam, golden langur in india, golden langur information, golden langur endangered, mgnrega assa, langoor images, golden langoor, golden langur images, monkey in north east india, golden langur iucn status