Golden Langurs
Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei) is one of the most beautiful and endangered species of the primates which is found in India and Nepal and indeed it is cute because it has golden-orange fur color. This fascinating primate is endemic to the forests of the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas and is surely loved in the areas within which it is found and embraced by the international community of lovers of the wild. As it will be seen in the article, characteristics, habitat, behaviour, and conservation status of the Golden Langur will be briefly described here.
Physical Characteristics
The Golden Langur is rather easy to identify by the gorgeous fur, which is of a golden color toning from a pale yellow to a deep and warm orange. They undergo changes in the coloration and this is most profound during the winter season while in the summer it has a dull color.
Size: The adult Golden Langurs have the body length of 19-22 inches (48-57 cm) and head and body length is 27-34 inches (69-86 cm). They are relatively small in size and common species of it can be weighed to be between 22 to 24 pounds (10 to 11 kg).
Facial Features: These langurs have a black face while their tail is long and more often could be longer than the body, which they use for balance as they move from one tree to another. Their hands and feet are also black whereas their fur is golden yellow in color.
Habitat and Distribution
Golden Langurs are spotted only in a extremely small area in the Eastern Himalayas especially in the area bordering Bhutan and the Indian state of Assam. The wild water buffaloes can be seen mostly in the Manas National park in Assam and in the northern part of Bhutan’s Black Mountains.
Habitat: They are Endemic to the tropical and Sub tropical moist deciduous forests and are mostly found in areas of dense tree cover that can supply there food and shelter needs. These forests are diverse, and this is in line with the factors that make up the diet of the langur.
The Geographic range of the Golden Langur is restricted and is hence sensitive to fragmentation and habitat loss.
Diet and Feeding Behavior Golden Langurs
Golden Langurs are mainly frugivores but it is noteworthy that over 50% of its diet comprises of leaves. However, they are also reported to feed on fruits, flowers, seeds and sometimes insects, depending with the seasons.
Diet: Young leaves are preferred since they are tender and also contain more nutrients than the mature leaves that are fed on by the insects. They also feed on fruits and flowers since they require nutrients and energy that is got from these sources.
Feeding Behavior: These langurs are mainly of the diurnal nature which implies that these animals are usually active during the day. They are mostly found in the higher part of the trees, they feed mostly. Golden Langurs are said to be selective foragers meaning that they only pick their food from the trees.
Social Structure and Behavior
Golden Langurs are mainly frugivores but it is noteworthy that over 50% of its diet comprises of leaves. However, they are also reported to feed on fruits, flowers, seeds and sometimes insects, depending with the seasons.
Diet: Young leaves are preferred since they are tender and also contain more nutrients than the mature leaves that are fed on by the insects. They also feed on fruits and flowers since they require nutrients and energy that are gotten from these sources.
Feeding Behavior: These langurs are mainly of the diurnal nature which implies that these animals are usually active during the day. They are mostly found in the higher part of the trees, they feed mostly. Golden Langurs are said to be selective foragers meaning that they only pick their food from the trees.
Reproduction and Lifespan Golden Langurs
Reproduction among Golden langurs is similar to that of other group of langur in that they have gestation period of about 6 to 7 months.
Breeding: Females give birth to infants and in most cases they produce one offspring at a time but in cases they can produce twins. The birth is normally at the time of the monsoon rain when there is plenty of food available.
Parental Care: Women are also nursing and shielding their young ones especially mothers who are fully responsible for the children. It is however weaned at about one year of age but it may still hang around its mother for some time.
Lifespan: Wild G-Langurs have a life span of 20 years or less because of predators and loss of habitats.
Conservation Status Golden Langurs
Hence, the Golden Langur has been listed in the IUCN Red List in the category Endangered. This status is attributed to habitat loss, human activities the fact that the animals are either small or have a short generation and are found in small patches.
Threats
Habitat Loss: Habitat loss due to conversion of land for agriculture, logging and human settlement explains most of the pressure on this primate. This makes populations get isolated thereby bringing effects such as reduced genetic variation and consequently the rates of genetic extermination increase with the level of habitat fragmentation.
Poaching: Despite the low rate in hunting as compared with other species, Golden Langurs are hunted occasionally for their fur or are captured to be consumed in the black market as pets.
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1. Sacred Status in the locals’ Perception
These Lutungs are endemic to some of the parts of Bhutan and some parts of India and in these regions people have a holy or religious view of the Lutungs. Various religions are related to them as well the myths. For instance in Bhutan, the langur monkey is regarded as an auspicious sign and hence receive some level of protection from the societies.
2. Unique and Elusive Distribution
Golden Langurs are among those species of primates which are located in the least number of areas. They are largely restricted to a small area of the east- central part of Bhutan and south western part of Bhutan and also in the forests of Assam and Bhutan. Due to their restricted mobility they are easily affected by the changes of their natural environment, which is a real problem according to the conservationists.
3. The colour of gold is known to be ‘golden’ but the colour here referred as golden is not as golden as one would imagine.
Despite the name Golden Langurs, they have mainly orange colouring but this colour is not present all the year round. Their intensity ranges from time to time depending on the season of the year, the age as well as the genetics of an individual person. Mammals are known to have change in color during the different seasons, in winter, for instance they appear warmer then in the summer, their fur can be off color slightly.
4. Late Discovery
Golden Langurs may look quite fancy, but actually, these creatures were discovered only in the mid twenteenth century, or more precisely in 1953, by the Britisch naturalist E. P. Gee in honor of whom the species was named Trachypithecus geei. Identified comparatively recently, they prove that the area’s biology was poorly understood at the time, and thus more extensive exploration is worthwhile.
5. Highly Arboreal Lifestyle
Golden Langurs are quadrumanes and essentially a highly trees moving primate since they spend most of their existence in tress. These have long and muscular tails in order to help balance themselves while moving across the forests. Living in trees shields them from ground predators but it means that they have a very strong reliance on healthy large tracts of forests.
Conclusion
The Golden Langur is not only a symbol of the rich biodiversity of the Eastern Himalayas but also a reminder of the fragile balance that exists between wildlife and human activity. Protecting this magnificent species requires concerted efforts from governments, conservationists, and local communities. By safeguarding their habitats and promoting sustainable practices, we can ensure that future generations will continue to marvel at the beauty of the Golden Langur.
