SHIVAMOGGA, India — Human-animal conflicts are increasing rapidly as animals, due to shrinking forest cover and the absence of native trees, are left with no other option but to enter the human habitats.
One such incident took place in the southern Indian state of Karnataka, where lion-tailed macaques (also known as Macaca silenus) took the roads.
An endangered species residing in the rainforests of Western Ghats come up to the hairpin curve of Agumbe ghat in Shivamogga to get food thrown by travelers.
Ajay Kumar Sharma, an environmentalist, lamented the condition of these species and said that though the sight seems beautiful to the travelers, it is sad to see these lion-tailed macaques like this.
“Lion-tailed macaques are known to be shy animals,” Sharma said. “They reside on the high canopies of native trees.”
“Now the forest department has replaced the native trees with Acacia and Nilgiris. These animals do not even have food in the forests. So there is a drastic behavioral change in them.”
“It is very disheartening to see them wait by the side of roads for travelers to throw a packet of chips,” he said.
Sharma said the Deputy Conservator of Forest of Someshwara Wildlife Sanctuary had passed an order for the travelers not to stop at Agumbe ghat.
“But that is not the solution. Rather than stopping the travelers, the authorities should make sure that these animals get enough food in the forest so that they do not have to depend on anyone,” Sharma said.
“Lion-tailed macaques are the pride of the Western ghats of Karnataka and Shivamogga. They are on the verge of extinction. We should do something for them.”
The lion-tailed macaques continue to be in the ‘endangered’ category in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
About 3,000-4,000 lion-tailed macaques live in the wild in three southern Indian states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, as per research.
Apart from habitat loss, researchers note that because of its highly selective eating habits, limited range of occupancy, long interbirth, low turnover, and small wildlife population are reasons behind the species being endangered.
“About 12 percent of the mammal species present in the Western Ghats is endemic. Since these rainforests have been severely distributed and decimated during the past 200 years, the species has now become highly endangered,” read the research.
Though the conservation status of the lion-tailed macaques had improved from ‘endangered’ in the first assessment in 1990 to ‘vulnerable’ in 1994, its status has remained endangered since 1996.
Shashi Bhushan, a villager in Agumbe, blamed the forest department for the plight of Lion-tailed macaques and requested the authorities to do something for these animals.
(With inputs from ANI)
Edited by Amrita Das and Pallavi Mehra
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