Abstracts |
TITLE: FEEDING ECOLOGY OF NILGIRI LANGUR (TRACHYPITHECUS JOHINI) IN SILENT VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, KERALA, INDIA |
Author: K Ramachandran and Gigi K Joseph. |
The Indian Forester Vol. 127, No 10, Issue October, year 2001,Page No 1155 |
Abstract
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Abstract: Nilgiri Langur (Trachypithecus johni) is an endemic primate of the Western Ghats. Even though it is primate highly adapted to different types of habitats like montane sholas, evergreen, semi-evergreen and moist deciduous forests, its status is endangered mainly due to anthropogenic activities. Large-scale habitat destruction for plantation and agriculture and poaching severely affected the primate by causing periodic decline. However, inclusion of extensive forest areas in the protected area network in south Indian states and the implementation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 helped greatly to restore its population to some extent. Feeding ecology of Nilgiri Langur has been studied in the rainforest ecosystem of Silent Valley from 1996. Eighty-nine food species were identified through direct observations. A majority of them was typical evergreen species. Monthly and seasonal variations in the percentage frequency feeding observations on different food items in the diet were observed. The need of conserving the evergreen habitats of the endangered Nilgiri Langur is discussed.