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1. WESTERN GHATS & PRIMATES
The Western Ghats is a continuous mountain chain parallel to the western coast of India traversing six states, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The complex topography and climatic conditions helps in the presence of abundance fauna and flora in this region. At least 325 globally threatened species are present in the Western Ghats region and many species of plants and animals are yet to be discovered.
The Primates are the members of the biological order Primates. Non-human primates occurs mostly in Central and South America, Africa, and southern Asia. Primates radiated in arboreal habitats and mostly dwells in Tropical forests. The topography and forest types present in Western Ghats promotes the wide distribution of primates.
2. STUDY AREA
Latitude: 8°0’ to 22 ° 26 Longitude:72°55’ to 78 ° 11’E. Covering distance: 1500km Area: 1,64,280 sq.km. Altitude range: 0-2674Annual average rainfal2500 mm. Mean temp. ranges: 20-24 °C.
Fig 1. Study area
3.PRIMATE DISTRIBUTION IN WG
Primate species are distributed across the WG region. There are 10 primate species were located from 72 locations in WG.
Cercopithecidae and Lorisidae are the primate families present in WG. Among these Cercopithecidae is the widely distributed family present in WG, while Lorisidae family shows higher distribution towards the southern and central portion of Western Ghats.
Fig 2. Distribution of primates
3.1. PRIMATE SPECIES IN WG
. Loris tardigradus
. Loris lydekkerianus
. Macaca fascicularis
. Macaca radiata
. Macaca silenus
. Semnopithecus dussumieri
. Semnopithecus entellus
. Semnopithecus hypoleucos
. Semnopithecus priam
. Trachypithecus johnii
4. DISTRIBUTION BASED ON CONSERVATION STATUS
Endangered species Macaca silenus and Loris tardigradus shows higher distribution towards Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu regions (8) of Western Ghats.
Vulnerable (Semnopithecus hypoleucos and Trachypithecus johnii) and Near Threatened species (Semnopithecus priam) were also shows a similar pattern of distribution towards the Central and Southern parts of Western Ghats.
Fig 3. Conservation status
Fig 4. Conservation status
5. ENDEMIC PRIMATES IN WG
5.1. Macaca silenus- Lion-tailed Macaque
Family: Cercopithecidae
Conservation Status: Endangered
Habitat: Tropical Evergreen, Semievergreen and Monsoon Forests in Hilly regions.
Fig 5. Macaca silenus- Lion-tailed Macaque
5.2. Trachypithecus johnii- Nilgiri langur
Family: Cercopithecidae
Conservation Status: Vulnerable
Habitat: Evergreen, SemiEvergreen, Moist Deciduous, Montane Evergreen and Riparian Forests.
Fig 6. Trachypithecus johnii- Nilgiri langur
6. REFERENCES
(1) Estimate of primate density using distance sampling in the evergreen forests of the central Western Ghats, India
(2) Distribution, status and conservation of primates of the Western Ghats
(3) Distribution and Abundance of Primates in Rain Forests of the Western Ghats, Karnataka, India and the Conservation of Macaca silenus
(4) Distribution, status and conservation of primates of the Western Ghats
7. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We are grateful to Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and IIITM- Kerala.
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