Golden langur World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates
The Golden langur (Trachypithecus geei) has now been listed in the World’s 25 Most Endangered Primates! It has been placed in this list due to extensive habitat fragmentation, habitat destruction and encroachment along its distribution range which has led to rapid population decline.
This was declared in a sessionunder chairmanship of Dr. Russell A. Mittermeier (Chair,International Union for Conservation of Natures Species Survival Commission Primate specialist Group (IUCN,SSC, PSG) in the joint congress of International Primatological Society and American Society of Primatologist which was held at Chicago, USA from 21st to 27th August 2016. Dr. Dilip Chetry, Head of Primate Research and Conservation Division of Aaranyak, Assam attended this conference which included 1500 participants from 56 countries.
Dr. Dilip Chetry also presented a talk on the Golden langur and Hoolock gibbon in Chicago. He told this correspondent that this is a positive development as the Golden langur will now draw the attention of global primatologists. For Assam, it is in the hands of the Government to act quickly and constructively to ensure a safe future for the golden langur. To give a new dimension to the conservation of the golden langur in particular and other wildlife in general, the Govt. should declare the “Ripu-Chirang Wildlife Sanctuary” with 590sq.km in the Manas Tiger Reserve and Kakoijana Wildlife Sanctuary (17sq.km) near Bogaigaon immediately, and also bring other areas under the protected areas network. The future of Golden langur is in the hands of mankind and the focus must be on education and awareness, habitat conservation, connecting the different forest fragments by forest corridors, habitat restorations, community participation and Trans-boundary conservation issues with Bhutan. Above all, both political will and public support are needed to achieve the goal of conservation. Dr. Chetry added that, “We are extremely hopeful that the people living near golden langur habitats will co-operate whole heartedly with the Forest Department, researchers, scientists and NGOs for the long-term conservation of golden langur which is the charismatic species of Bodoland Territorial Council. It can also be used as a “Flagship species” for the conservation of bio-biodiversity of this region.”
The Golden langur (Trachypithecus geei) is an endangered primate, endemic to the semi-evergreen and mixed-deciduous forests of Indo-Bhutan border. It has already been listed as endangered species in the IUCN Red List (2016) and Schedule-I species in Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972). In India its distribution is confined between the rivers Manas in the east, Sankosh in the west, Brahmaputra in the south and extends to an area over 2500sq.km2. However at present approximately just 1400sq.km is remaining. In Bhutan its distribution is equally restricted and found in central Butan ranging between Sankosh River and the Chamkhar-Mange-Manas river complex.
Random Stories
18 Jan 2010 - 9:37pm |
Juthika Das
Sahitya Sabha Week has been organised by Barpeta Sahitya Sabha on January 17 to 23. The event started with celebration of Silpi Divas. On this occasion on there were discussion and artists...
3 Jun 2011 - 9:09pm |
Shikha Kalita
World Milk Day-2011 was celebrated at South Point School in association with (School Health Annual Report Programme (Sharp), a non-government organization. The aim of the event was to promote milk...
4 Sep 2015 - 9:18pm |
AT News
Dissident Congress leaders have been camping in New Delhi to carry forward their further course of action. According to sources, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma who is taking the lead will help them...
30 Dec 2017 - 11:05am |
AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Kokrajhar: A section of angry residents in Kokrajhar thrashed a ration dealer accusing him of resorting to unfair deal with the beneficiaries. The incident took place on Friday where a group of...
Other Contents by Author
Precious one-horned rhino is facing unprecedented threat to its existence, with as many as 49 Rhinos already dead in 2016 itself. State Forest Minister, Pramila Rani Brahma, had recently revealed these shocking numbers in a statement. According to the official records, 22 rhinos had dies in natural calamity like the recent floods while the rest were butchered by poachers. Assam based Aaranyak, which had been working for the past 2 decades for rhino conservation in the state have submitted a set of recommendations for protection of rhinos and to urgently curb the growing cases of poaching of the species in the state. These were submitted at a workshop titled “NATIONAL LEVEL EXPERT...
For the 10th time since 2008,important delegatesrepresentingthe Governments of Bhutan and Indiaalong with conservation NGOs of the region met in Guwahati, Assam.The landmark meeting was held on 21st-22nd June 2016 to discuss Conservation of Biodiversity- Issues and Opportunities in the large Transboundary Landscape between India and Bhutan across the International Boundary from the river Sankoshinthe west to the River Dhansiri in the east, referred to as the TransboundaryManas Conservation Area (TraMCA). In India, it includes the Manas Tiger Reserveandin Bhutan, the forested areas of south covering the Royal Manas National Park, Phipsoo Wildlife Sanctuary and Jomotshangkha...
Sunday is the World Environment Day and this year’s global theme “Zero tolerance for Illegal Wildlife Trade” found resonance in events observed across Assam, to mark the day.New recruits of Assam Police joined hands to learn about nature, to care for the environment and environmental issues through an awareness event organised by Aaranyak in collaboration with Assam chapter of Institutions of Engineers and 4th APBN authorities in Guwahati.A big number of recruits under training at 4th APBN along with officers of 4t APBN attended a plantation programme at 4th APBN campus followed by a meeting on this year's World Environment Day's global theme "Fight Against Illegal Trade in Wildlife"....
Assam’s rivers and wetlands which crisscross the state, may soon lose much needed protection under the Central Government’s new Draft Wetland Rules 2016. The Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India has recently released the Draft Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules 2016. To analyse the impact of these new Draft on wetlands of Assam, Aaranyak and ActionAid jointly organised a consultation at Guwahati today. The consultation compared the Wetland Rules 2010 with the Draft Wetland Rules 2016, and has found that the new Wetland Rules offers very few protective measures to Assam’s wetlands when compared to the Wetland Rules of 2010.The Consultation suggested a complete...
The Assam StateZoocum Botanical Garden has been recently struggling in many aspects which include availability of much needed field necessities, in a timely manner. The guards and animal keepers have to work in challenging conditions and the lack of basic amenities like proper shoes makes the task at hand more difficult. To provide some much needed relief to the staff of Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden, Guwahati based NGO Aaranyak distributed 178 pairs of shoes and boots in an event held on 16th May 2016 at the Herbarium Meeting Hall, Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden, Guwahati. The shoes which were sponsored by Aaranyak and Katie Adamson Conservation Fund (USA), in association...
For the first time ever, forest guards of Manas National Park, will patrol on motor bikes instead of on foot! The Tiger Conservation at Manas National Park has unfolded a new chapter recently. Extensive and intricate patrolling at the deep heart as well as porous border of Manas is possible now, with the newly introduced Motorbike Patrolling.“Earlier we patrolled on foot and could cover distances only as much our feet would allow. Now that we have motorbikes, we feel better equipped at detailed patrolling of the park”, says Forester MrinmoyHazarika, in a conversation with the Aaranyak team. While trainee Ansuma Brahma added, “We have patrolled 995 kilometres of the Bhuyanpara Range in just...
A group of wildlife photographers and biologists from North East India have reported discovering of a new species of primate to India, the White Cheeked Macaque, in Arunachal Pradesh!Arunachal Pradesh, lying in the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hotspot, finds itself on the global map of latest discoveries, with the report of this new species of primate. The White-cheeked Macaque (Macaca leucogenys) was first spotted at the Anjaw district, lying in the Eastern corner Arunachal Pradesh. This astounding discovery has been made by a team of biologists and wildlife photographers comprising of Dr. Ranjan Kumar Das, Udayan Borthakur and Dr. Dilip Chetry. The team, accompanied by professional bird...
There is now a new ray of hope for tigers at Manas National Park, Assam. The first step towards conservation of an endangered species is a group of trained Forest Staff. The Manas Tiger Conservation Program (MTCP), launched by Aaranyak jointly with Panthera, Wildlife Conservation Trust of India, Awely of France and BTC Forest Department, promises to double the number of wild tigers at Manas in the coming decade. As an initial step towards this goal, a two week long Training Program on Basic Patrolling Techniques and Data Management for the Forest Staff of Manas National Park was held at the Bhuyanpara Range from 29th of February to 12th March, 2016. Sponsored by the Integrated Tiger...
An army is created to defend a cause, and when women form an army for a cause they believe in earnestly, nothing remains impossible. The women of Dadaravillage in Assam have been slowly but steadily leading a crusade under the leadership of Dr. Purnima Devi Barman for the conservation of the endangered Greater Adjutant Stork which is locally known as Hargila. The families of Dadara have adopted the rare stork as their own, and the species which was on the brink of extinction are slowly getting a new lease of life. 70 women of all ages have now come together to form an ‘Army’ ready to combat all obstacles in the path of Hargila conservation. Their sheer dedication and commitment have got a...
Can genetic research be used to protect wildlife? Aaranyak, a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation based at Guwahati, has proven that the answer is a resounding ‘Yes’. After breaking new grounds in conservation efforts in Assam, Aaranyak has now reached out to neighbouring country Bhutan. Bhutan shares a common border with Assam along with a portion of the state’s Manas Tiger Reserve. In a bid to further strengthen conservation activities among both countries, 13 officers of Department of Forests and Park Services from Bhutan have participated in a special capacity building training on application of genetic techniques for wildlife population monitoring, in Guwahati, from 7th to...
Add new comment