Of how much concern are the ‘least concern’ species? Distribution and conservation status of bonnet macaques, rhesus macaques and Hanuman langurs in Karnataka, India

Abstract

We assessed the distribution and conservation status of bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata), rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and Hanuman langurs (Semnopithecus entellus) in the state of Karnataka, India. Karnataka is situated in southwest India with an area of 191,791 km(2). A total of 9697 km of vehicular survey was made from November 2001 to July 2004. We also visited 107 temples/tourist spots to determine the presence of primates. Bonnet macaques and Hanuman langurs were widely distributed, whereas rhesus macaques were not found in the state. However, bonnet macaques were absent in a few districts in the northern plains and Hanuman langurs were absent in some districts of the southern plains. A total of 205 groups of bonnet macaques and 139 groups of Hanuman langurs were sighted. The relative encounter rate of both species differed across biogeographic zones. Bonnet macaques were largely encountered in the Western Ghats and the Southern Plateau whereas Hanuman langurs were abundant in the Western Ghats and Northern Plains. We found that bonnet macaques have been eliminated from about 48% temples/tourist spots where they occurred in the recent past. The Hanuman langur population of Dharwar-Haliyal Road was assessed during April 2003, and we found that the present population size was about 38% of a previous survey in 1961. Habitat change, hunting/trapping and translocation were the major factors causing a decline in the langur population.

Of Concern Yet? Distribution and Conservation Status of the Bonnet Macaque (Macaca radiata) in Goa, India

“…In the present study, the encounter rate of 0.05 groups/ km is comparable to the encounter rate of 0.021 groups/km found in Karnataka (Kumara et al 2010a). Although bonnet macaques are usually found at higher densities in marginal and unprotected habitats (Kumara et al 2010b), in our study, the group encounter rate was higher (though not statistically bonnet macaque individuals was highest in forests, whereas in Karnataka, the number of bonnet macaques sighted was highest in areas of human habitation and lowest in forests.…”

“…Unfortunately decline of bonnet macaque populations in southern India. In the neighboring state of Karnataka, Kumara et al (2010a) noted that nearly 91% of the coastal populations of M. radiata have been extirpated. Secondary information collected during the course of our study also indicated that bonnet macaques have long been extirpated from coastal towns such as Siolim.…”

“…Studies monitoring demographic changes in their populations in southern India between 1989 and 2009 showed drastic reductions in both the number of groups (54 to 31) as well as the number of individuals (1207 to 697) (D'Souza and Singh 1992;Sharma 1998;Singh and Rao 2004;Singh et al 2011). The bonnet macaque is also reported to be locally extinct in many regions in southern India (Kumara et al 2010a). These studies reiterate the importance of collecting even baseline data on the present distribution and populations of the species in order to obtain a more accurate picture of its current conservation status.…”

“…As a start, the aim of our study was, therefore, to obtain an understanding of the distribution of M. radiata in the state of Goa, towards the northern end of its distributional range. Trapping and hunting of bonnet macaques as retaliatory measures against macaque crop-raiding has been a major factor for the decline of bonnet populations in India (Kumara et al 2010a;Singh and Rao 2004). People's tolerance for crop-raiding and attitudes towards bonnet macaques therefore crucially determine the conservation status of the species.…”

Identification of Critical Areas for Mammal Conservation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest Biosphere Reserve

“…A great number of species underrepresented by PAs were considered of Least Concern, according to IUCN criteria (IUCN 2010). However, strong population declines have also been reported for species classified as of least concern in different parts of the world (del Hoyo et al 2003;Kumara et al 2010). In this sense, policy makers should also take into account these species when designing PA networks to ensure that their distribution and population flows are maintained across the RBMA.…”