Golden Langur | 15 Jan 2025

Source: IE 

Why in News?  

A Golden Langur was killed in an accident on National Highway 117 in Assam, raising concerns over the increasing threats to this endangered species. 

What are the Key Facts About Golden Langur? 

• Taxonomy and Discovery: 
  • Species Name: Trachypithecus geei. 
  • Family: Cercopithecidae (Old World Monkeys). 
  • Subfamily: Colobinae (Leaf-eating monkeys). 
  • Discovered By: E.P. Gee in 1953; formally described by Khajuria in 1956. 
• Geographic Range: Golden langurs are found exclusively in Assam, India, and neighboring Bhutan. 
  • They inhabit a restricted area bordered by the foothills of Bhutan (north), the Manas River (east), the Sankosh River (west), and the Brahmaputra River (south). 
• Habitat: Subtropical and temperate broadleaf forests at elevations from near sea level to above 3,000 meters. 
• Physical Characteristics: 
  • Color: Golden-orange fur. Coat color changes with seasons (cream in summer, dark golden in winter). 
  • Facial Features: Black hairless face with a pale beard; protective hair whorl on the crown. 
  • Sexual Dimorphism: Males are larger and more robust than females. 
•  Behavior: Active during the day (Diurnal) and primarily live in trees (Arboreal). 
  • Golden Langurs live in troops of 3 to 15 individuals, typically a single male with multiple females or occasionally all-male groups. 
• Geographic Variation: The golden langur is thought to have two subspecies based on coat color differences, they are Trachypithecus geei bhutanensis (northern Bhutan) and Trachypithecus geei geei (southern Bhutan and India). 
  • However, the northern subspecies has not been formally described according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN). 
• Threats: Fragmented habitats are a major threat to golden langurs, as their population is split into isolated groups.  
  • The absence of non-breeding all-male bands in these fragmented areas is a concern, as it could affect the species' long-term survival.  
  • Human activities like road construction, deforestation, and conflicts between people and wildlife are causing this habitat fragmentation. 
• Conservation Status: The IUCN Red List lists the golden langur as Endangered, and it is protected under  Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix I. 
  • The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 (now the Wildlife Protection (Amendment) Act 2022) lists the Golden Langur in Schedule I, ensuring highest stringent protection measures. 
• Conservation Measures:  Create corridors to connect fragmented habitats, improving genetic diversity and movement between populations.  
  • Building canopy bridges for safer movement. Long-term conservation strategies are needed to address human impacts on the golden langur’s habitat.