Alert sounded over Golden Langur deaths in Assam

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Alert sounded over Golden Langur deaths in Assam

Guwahati | February 16, 2006 1:15:06 PM IST

 

Wildlife authorities sounded an alert over the deaths

of a rare primate species in Assam in a mysterious

disease in the past week, officials said Thursday.

A wildlife official in Assam said forest rangers

recovered corpses of nine golden langurs in the

western district of Kokrajhar, about 230 km from here.

 

" Nine deaths in a few days is a matter of serious

concern. We are worried as the disease might further

spread and hence an alert to save this rare primate

from getting wiped out, " Kempa Borgoyary, a wildlife

warden in Kokrajhar, told IANS.

 

Golden langur is one of the world's most endangered

species found only in a few pockets in western Assam

and adjoining Bhutan. The total population of this

rare primate species is about 10,000.

 

According to locals and unofficial reports, some 15

golden langurs have died so far in the area.

 

" We appeal to experts with knowledge in primates from

anywhere in the world to come and help us to save this

highly endangered primates from extinction, " the

warden said.

 

" We cannot allow this beautiful species to get

annihilated from the world map. "

 

Forest officials have sent samples for forensic tests

to find out the exact cause of the deaths. " We do not

know if the primates are hit by some viral disease, "

another wildlife official T. Basumatary said.

 

Wildlife authorities in Bhutan are also concerned at

the sudden deaths of Golden Langurs in Assam.

 

" The golden langurs are found in small belt and if

there is a viral outbreak then it might hit the

species in our area as well. We are keeping a strict

vigil and in touch with our counterparts in Assam, " a

Bhutanese wildlife official said by telephone from

Samdrup Jhonkhar district requesting anonymity.

 

Experts and conservation groups said the deaths comes

at a time when this is the mating season for the

golden langurs.

 

" We believe the deaths were caused due to poisoning,

with the golden langurs probably drinking water from a

river where people use chemicals to kill fish, " said

Soumyadeep Dutta, director of Natures Beckon, a

conservation group working on the golden langurs.

 

The primates, first discovered in 1920, live in groups

of up to 50. However, they are generally found in

smaller troops of about nine.

 

(IANS)