New monkey species found in Arunachal 
A new species of monkey has been found in western Arunachal Pradesh, considered among the worldˇ¦s 25 biodiversity hotspots.

North East News Agency

Macaca Munzala, a new species of monkey, has been found in western Arunachal Pradesh, a region located at the junction of eastern Himalaya and Indo-Burma border and considered among the worldˇ¦s 25 global biodiversity hotspots. Macaca Munzala or locally called the Arunachal Macaque, shares morphological characteristics independently with the Assamese Macaque and with the Tibetan Macaque. It apparently belongs to the Sinica species group.

But it has also its own distinct features. It is unique in its altitudinal distribution, residing largely at altitude between 2000 and 3000 metres. The newly discovered species are different from all other Sinica species groups by a suite of traits including a prominently dark crown patch, characteristic facial marks on the temple and forehead, pale colour of hair around the neck and distinctive relative tail length which is intermediate between those of Tibetan and Assamese macaques.

Sighted in much of Tawang district and in western part of west Kameng district and possibility of their presence in other parts of Arunachal and in adjoining Bhutan and Tibet, this new species is wary in presence of people and moves away on being closely observed.

Meanwhile, wildlife authorities have sounded an alert over the deaths of Golden Langurs in a mysterious disease. Forest rangers discovered corpses of nine Golden Langurs in the western district of Kokrajhar recently. Golden Langur is one of the worldˇ¦s most endangered species found only in few pockets in western Assam and adjoining Bhutan. The total population of this rare species is about 10, 000. According to latest information, at least 15 Golden Langurs have died so far.

As reported by Government of Assam, the decomposed carcasses were treated with lime and salt and buried immediately as a precautionary measure for preventing spread of the disease, if any. Samples of the carcasses of Golden Langurs have been sent to the National Biological Institute, Pune, Forensic Laboratory, Guwahati and Histopathological Laboratory of the College of Veterinary Science, Guwahati for analysis. A team of experts from College of Veterinary Science, Guwahati had also visited the area and the Golden Langur troops are being monitored regularly to prevent recurrence of such incidents. Some viral infection is the most possible cause for deaths.

On the other hand, increase in  the population in Gibbons at the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctury along the Assam-Meghalaya border has boosted conservation efforts. The number of Gibbons has risen from 19 to 21 in   the recent survey conducted. The sanctury is the only one in India where seven species of primates are found.

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