Capped Langur Portrait
Portrait of a striking capped langur looking down at me from a flame of the forest tree. Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India.
Capped Langurs in Assam, India – A Rare and Endangered Species
Assam, the land of tea gardens and tropical forests, is also home to many rare and endangered species of wildlife. One of the most charismatic is the capped langur, scientifically known as Trachypithecus pileatus. In India this species of primate can only be seen in Northeastern region of India but is also native to Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar. These majestic creatures are easily recognizable by their distinctive black hood-like crest of hair on the head, hence the name “capped” langur.
The capped langur is an arboreal species, meaning they live and move through the trees, and they are primarily herbivores, feeding on leaves, fruits, and flowers. They are active during the day, and they live in small groups that consist of a dominant male, several females, and their offspring. The male langur acts as the protector of the group, and the female langurs care for their young and keep the group organized.
Unfortunately, the population of capped langurs is declining rapidly due to habitat loss and poaching. The forests in the Northeast region of India are being cleared for agriculture, and this is causing the langurs to lose their natural habitat and their food sources. Furthermore, illegal hunting and poaching of the langurs for their skin and body parts for use in traditional medicine is also a major threat to their survival.
The good news is that there are conservation efforts underway to protect these endangered primates. The Assam Forest Department and various non-profit organizations are working together to preserve their habitat and monitor their population. Moreover, awareness programs are being conducted in local communities to educate people about the importance of preserving the capped langurs and their habitat.
Capped Langurs play an important role in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, and it is our responsibility to protect and preserve them. By raising awareness and implementing conservation efforts, we can ensure that these majestic creatures will continue to thrive for generations to come.
You can find more about Capped Langurs here.
About Kaziranga National Park:
Kaziranga National Park was first established in 1905 with the help of Mary Curzon, the wife of Viceroy Lord Curzon of Kedleston. As Vicereine of India, Mary held the highest official title in the Indian Empire that a woman could hold. It is said that when Mary visited the area to see rhinos she was unable to find even one and so persuaded her husband to take urgent measures to protect the vulnerable species. After the legislation was passed the Kaziranga Reserve Forest was created with an area of 232 km2. In 1985 Kaziranga became a UNESCO world heritage and is now one of India’s most famous tourist destinations, located on the edge of the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot in the state of Assam.
Now covering 430² km, Kaziranga is dominated by dense tropical forests, marshland and vast expanses of giant elephant grass, so called because they can grow tall enough to hide even the largest animals. The Brahmaputra river that winds it way through the flood plains is the lifeblood of the area and gives the national park its amazing biodiversity.
Kaziranga is home to the world’s largest population of Greater one-horned rhinoceros. Over 2200 rhinos inhabit the elephant grass meadows and dense forests; approximately 2/3rd of total world population. The National Park is also home to many other endemic and endangered animals such as Hoolock Gibbons; India’s only ape, Indian Elephants, Sloth Bears, Wild water buffalo and swamp deer. An increase in the tiger population every year has also meant that Kaziranga was declared as a Tiger Reserve in the 2006 and it is now purported to have the highest density of tigers anywhere in the world.
Along with the wide range of mammal species the park is also recognised as an important area for birds. Rare birds such as the ferruginous duck, lesser white-fronted goose, Baer’s pochard, adjutant storks, black-necked storks, and Asian Openbill storks migrate here from the Central Asia during the winter.