The locals of Assam, India, have voiced their opposition towards the sanctuary tag proposed for the golden langur habitat. The Assam Forest Department’s decision to convert a 19.85 sq. km. patch of forest into the Kajoijana Bamuni Hill Wildlife Sanctuary has triggered this controversy. Kakoijana Reserve Forest, the suggested location for this sanctuary, is renowned as one of the prime habitats for the golden langur.
The Villagers’ Concerns and Propositions
The locals plea for the abandonment of the traditional concept, “wildlife sanctuary”. They propose that the reserve forest be transformed into a community forest resource in alignment with the Forest Rights Act, 2006. This proposition caters to the principle of sustainable conservation through community co-management. The villagers also stress on the significant role they played in augmenting the forest canopy from below 5% to over 70% and increasing the golden langur population from less than 100 to above 600 in nearly 30 years.
Wildlife Sanctuary, Reserve Forest, and Community Forest Resource: An Overview
A wildlife sanctuary serves as a refuge specifically devoted to wildlife including animals, reptiles, insects, birds, particularly the threatened and rare species. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, grants the power to central and state governments to establish any region as a wildlife sanctuary, national park or closed area. However, reserve forests are highly restricted areas set up by the State Government on any forest land or wasteland owned by the Government. Here, local people are often barred unless explicitly permitted by a Forest Officer during the settlement. Comparatively, community forest resource refers to the customary communal forest land traditionally accessible to the community, inclusive of reserve forests, protected forests, sanctuaries, and national parks, defined in Section 2(a) of the Forest Rights Act.
About The Golden Langurs
Known scientifically as Trachypithecus geei, golden langurs are aptly named for their fur, which changes color seasonally and regionally. Juveniles distinctly differ from adults with their almost pure white fur. Termed as leaf monkeys, these creatures are heavily dependent on the upper canopy of forests for their survival. Their habitat is limited to western Assam, India, and southern Bhutan, enclosed by geographical landmarks: Bhutan’s foothills (North), Manas river (East), Sankosh river (West), and Brahmaputra river (South).
The Threats Golden Langurs Face
The narrow confinement of their habitat by natural boundaries significantly heightens the risk of extinction of the golden langurs. In addition, the rapid fragmentation of their habitat in Assam, mainly due to rural electrification and extensive deforestation, has further jeopardized their existence. Obstructions like wires and gaps in the forest due to tree-felling have escalated the threat of inbreeding among golden langurs.
Conservation Efforts
The conservation breeding of golden langur initiated by the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi, in 2011 at Assam’s state zoo aims to preserve this species. The last census conducted in Assam was in 2009, which estimated a count of 5140 golden langurs. Unfortunately, the 2020 census could not be carried out owing to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Protection Status
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the golden langur as an endangered species. It is also classified under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.