Assam– A string of tragic incidents in December has underscored the precarious plight of Assam’s endangered golden langurs, with three of these rare primates succumbing to electrocution within a week.
The deaths, which occurred in the Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar districts, have raised alarms over the growing threat posed by uninsulated power lines in forested areas.
The first incident unfolded on December 7 in Nayekgaon, Kokrajhar, when an infant golden langur was electrocuted while navigating tree branches that came into contact with a power line. The injured infant fell to the ground, only to be retrieved by its distressed mother. Tragically, the infant did not survive its injuries, and its carcass was later discovered on December 10 by primatologist Dr. Joydeep Shil of the Primate Research Centre North East India.
Just a day later, on December 8, another golden langur was electrocuted in Bongaigaon’s Soulmari area. The deadly streak continued on December 10 when a female golden langur suffered a similar fate near the Sidalsati market in the Thakurani Khorapara area. This incident left behind an orphaned infant, intensifying conservation concerns for the already vulnerable species.
The orphaned infant, a female, has been rescued and is now under the care of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre in Kokrajhar. “The injured infant has wounds consistent with electrocution and is receiving round-the-clock care. Our goal is to nurture it back to health for eventual reintegration into the wild,” said a WTI official.
Golden langurs, endemic to the Indo-Bhutan region, are listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). With their survival already threatened by habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict, the new hazard of uninsulated power lines adds a devastating dimension to their struggle.
“This is a wake-up call for authorities. Uninsulated power lines are taking a deadly toll on an already endangered species,” said a local environmentalist.
Dr. Jihosuo Biswas, a senior scientist at the Primate Research Centre North East India, has called for urgent government action to mitigate the threat. Key recommendations include insulating power lines, relocating transformers away from forested areas, and conducting community awareness campaigns on wildlife conservation.
Conservationists stress that without immediate intervention, these electrocution deaths could accelerate the decline of Assam’s golden langur population, further endangering one of the region’s most iconic species.
Read More: Kiren Rijiju Accuses Congress of Undermining Constitution in Lok Sabha Speech