Western Ghats…
A mountain range with greenery all around with surprising bio diversity
A Home for colourful animals and birds…
Among which, we are revealing a story of one animal.
Soon after the sunrise, here, the sounds of this animal
reaches the sky
Always staying in groups, spending 99% of its life on trees,
easily walking on tall trees, jumping from tree to tree with ease… and…
an animal which is endangered…
Lion Tailed Macaque
These Lion tailed Macaques are found only our Western Ghats
and no where else on this earth
Aghanashini, Sharavathi and other rivers give birth to a
number of falls in these vast forests in the ghats
There are about 3000 Lion Tailed Macaques in this world
These Lion Tailed Macaques are found only in some parts of
Silent Valley National Park of Kerala,
Annamalai Hills and Agumbe, Kudremukh and Sharavathi Valley of the Western Ghats
According to the population estimation of 2016, there are 617 Lion Tailed Macaques in Sharavathi Valley
and compared to other places, this is the place with highest population of Lion Tailed Macaques
Hence, for the protection of Lion Tailed Macaques, our Government declared this area as
Lion Tailed Macaques Conservation Reserve in 2011
Lion Tailed Macaques live for about 20 years.
They are the species of high importance and are called as “Flagship Species”.
For instance, wherever these LTMs are found, those forests are considered to be rich in Bio-diversity
These flagship species play an important role in seed
disbursal
These are social beings that live always in groups
There will also be a leader to this group
The protection of this group is this leader’s responsibility
He is called as “Alpha-Male”
While other members of the group is busy with their routines,
this leader keeps an eye on the group and around
…and
keeps the group informed about food and any intruders
There is no scarcity of food in these forests
Different variety of fruits are found in abundance
But where there is food, there competition
Bonnet Macaques have come to eat this Jackfruit
Sometimes, this competition turns into fight!
These kinds of fights are common in these forests
Finally, the intruders were chased successfully and the LTM group members
are ready to taste this fruit one by one
They feed on Uppage (garcinia gummi-gutta, Jackfruit, Guava and other fruits
Forest Department is supporting these LTMs by planting fruit yielding plants in these forests
Thick Fur on the bodies of LTMs protect them from small
insects
Specially modified limbs help them to move freely on trees and tear out fruits and eat them
Now, another tree.! A different fruit is being eaten…
Not just fruits..
these LTMs search in tree burrows and they feed on the insects and their larvae…
..for which, they use their sharp teeth to break open the tree barks
The male LTM attains adulthood at the age of  8 while females attains around 7th
year
Only Alpha-Make mates with all the females in the group
They give birth to their young ones during December-February months majorly
Gestation period in LTMs is about 5
to 8 months
and the females breast-feed their young ones for about 12 to15 months
They spend most of their time in “Grooming” – A process of cleaning
There will be about 6 to 36 individuals in a group.
and there will be 1 Alpha-Male, and 3 to 4 males who are juveniles.
Protecting the group, searching for fruit bearing trees,
..guarding the group from other groups and other animals
is the job of an Alpha-Male
…while females engage themselves in taking care of the young ones
There is another animal in this forest that gives
competition to these LTMs for food..
HUMAN!!
Uppage (garcinia gummi-gutta)
Among all the other foods that is found here, Uppage is one
of the major one for LTMs
But it has been many years since Humans started using this
for their use
Because of this, there is a fear of scarcity of food
Not just scarcity of food, there is a competition for place also!
Here, people have built houses, farms and roads for them and put Electric lines
Because of this, not only forests are degrading, these LTMs are facing major problems
Since 1 to 2 years, in our Aghanashini Lion Tailed Macaque Conservation Reserve, 3 LTMs died due to Electrocution
To ease their movement and protect them from danger, bridges made of rubber
have been installed in the forests where these LTMs are found.
Our Forest Department has insulated all the electric lines, which pass through the Conservation Reserve
The Forest department always keep a watch on these animals,
irrespective of night or day
By using the camera trap technology they observe the
movements in and around the forests
By constructing LTM Eco park at Gerusoppa, they educate the visitors about these animals
By organising  Nature Camps for students,
Teachers, Reporters, they spread awareness on forests,
LTMs, their importance and about their conservation to them
Through VFCs (Village Forest Committee),  Forest Department is controlling poaching in these forests
Also, by distributing LPG and solar stoves, they are
reducing the dependency of the local people on forests
Not only so much…
By planting Sign-Boards on the road sides, they are spreading the information about the importance of LTMs
These Lion Tailed Macaques are just one example.
Like them, so many Trees, plants, animals and birds are facing extinction due to destruction of Forests.
These forests are not meant only for humans for their selfish needs
but it is the property and home of every living being here
Destruction of forests will not only affect these wild
animals, but also will destroy Humans for sure
Before it is too late, please do something and protect
FORESTS…
PROTECT LION TAILED MACAQUES…
