Guwahati, 11th September: In response to increasing road accidents involving the endangered Golden langur (Trachypithecus geei), the Primate Research Centre has embarked on a project to construct wildlife passages and artificial canopy bridges to safeguard this vulnerable species.
The Golden langur, an arboreal primate endemic to the Indo-Bhutan border, is primarily found in four districts of western Assam, India, and six districts of south-central Bhutan. The species has faced significant threats due to habitat loss, with over half of its habitat in Assam’s Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon districts disappearing in recent decades due to deforestation and land conversion for agriculture and human settlements.
Senior Primatologist Dr. Jihosuo Biswas highlighted the severe impact of habitat fragmentation, noting that the lack of connectivity forces Golden langurs to engage in risky terrestrial behavior, leading to high mortality rates from road accidents. “We have recorded road kills, electric hazards, and high parasitic prevalence in various areas, including Nadangiri Reserve Forest and Chakrashilla Wildlife Sanctuary,” Dr. Biswas said.
A recent study on traffic behavior revealed that Golden langurs often attempt to cross roads at ground level, exposing them to vehicular traffic. To address this issue, the Primate Research Centre has developed several measures to enhance landscape connectivity. This includes the construction of artificial canopy bridges (ACBs) and linear wildlife passages.
Initial efforts involved the installation of ACBs in the Nayekgaon-Rubber Garden-Baxamara-Amguri forest complex, targeting high-traffic areas along State Highway 14 (SH-14). The bridges, constructed from bamboo, mixed bamboo-cum-rope, and pipe materials, were designed to provide safe crossings for the langurs. The ACBs were equipped with camera traps to monitor usage, revealing that pipe bridges were particularly attractive to the langurs.
Additionally, four ladder bridges were constructed at Siljan in Kokrajhar. Although it took six months for the langurs to confidently use these bridges, their adoption increased significantly by January 2024.
Monitoring data between June 2022 and February 2024 recorded 17 road collision incidents along SH-14, resulting in six fatalities, five major injuries, and six minor injuries to Golden langurs. The data underscores the urgent need for continued efforts to protect this endangered species and enhance their habitat connectivity.
Read More: Arunachal Pradesh to Launch 12,500 MW Hydropower Projects by 2027