Evaluating Threats and its Impact on the Current Distribution of Golden Langur in Bhutan

22 Aug 2013 Royal Manas National Park, Bhutan, Indian Sub-continent Mammals

Dorji Wangchuk

This projects aims to:

(1) assess the current distribution of golden langur in Bhutan with respect to its distribution reported in the past and

(2) evaluate the retrospective changes in their population size due to developmental activities taking place within its habitat.

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The golden langur, Trachypithcus geei is an endangered species endemic to Bhutan and Indian state of Assam. Its distribution is limited to a small forest belt in Bhutan and Assam, between the River Manas in the east, River Sankosh in the west and Brahmaputra in the south. The single study conducted in 2003 indicated that golden langur population in Bhutan was threatened due to habitat fragmentation and inadequate enforcement of habitat protection laws by the enforcing agencies. After 10 years, we propose to monitor threats and its impact on the current distribution of golden langur in Bhutan.

For more than one decade, there has been very little concern about the change in habitat condition of golden langur in Bhutan. Though native to central part of Bhutan confined between two major river systems - Mandechhu and Kurichhu, there is total lack of study on the population trend and change of habitat size. This project will provide timely update of information on golden langur in Bhutan and serve as a basis for any future management interventions. Though major portions of the golden langur habitat fall within the protected areas; Royal Manas National Park (RMNP), Jigme Singye Wangchuk National Park (JSWNP) and Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary (PWS), there has been number of infrastructure development taking place along the buffer and adjoining forest areas. The mega hydropower projects in Punatsangchu and Mangdechu rivers are coming up at very large scale and likely to pose high disturbance. In addition to that, there are number of suspension bridges constructed across these two major rivers. These bridges provide connectivity across its barrier and suspected cross breeding with Capped Langur that occurs on the other side of Mangdechu at the east side. This project will account all the development infrastructures that are constructed within their habitat and assess its impact on the current distribution.

The study will also look at group size and composition and their association with different habitat types. The association of habitat with group size will determine the habitat suitability and provide basis for planning management strategy in future.

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