Golden Langur

Why in News?

Rcently, 7 endangered Golden Langurs were successfully released back into the wild at Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park in Assam following a major joint anti-trafficking operation.

• Golden Langur – It is an Old-World monkey, known primarily for its distinct, leaf-eating dietary adaptations.
• Scientific Name – Trachypithecus geei.
• Family - Cercopithecidae (Old World Monkeys).
• Discovery – The species was discovered in 1953 by the naturalist E.P. Gee.
• Morphology
  • Size – Medium-sized arboreal primate.
  • Males are slightly larger and more robust than females.
  • Weight – 9.5 – 10.8 kg.
  • Height – 50 to 75 cm in head-and-body length.
  • Tail – Very long, non-prehensile tail measuring 70 to 100 cm.

Arboreal – Living in, or spending most of its time in, trees.

• Unique Trait – Their striking golden-orange fur, which undergoes fascinating seasonal color changes (dark chestnut in winter to cream-coloured in summer).
• They possess a completely hairless, jet-black face framed by a long, pale beard.

• Habitat – High-canopy subtropical moist deciduous and evergreen forests, highly dependent on contiguous riverine forest ecosystems.
• Distribution – Endemic to a very small region split between Western Assam, India and the neighbouring Black Mountains of Bhutan.
• Geographical Boundaries
  • North – Foothills of the Black Mountains in Bhutan.
  • South – The Brahmaputra River in Assam, India.
  • East – The Manas River.
  • West – The Sankosh River
• Diet – Herbivores (folivores)
• Internal Adaptations – They feature a specialized, multi-chambered "tripartite" (three-chambered) stomach utilizes unique microflora to ferment and digest tough cellulose from leaves, fruits, seeds, and buds.

• Threats
  • Habitat fragmentation,
  • Human-wildlife conflicts, and
  • Genetic isolation.

Reference

The Hindu | Golden Langur