The Hindu : National : Nine golden langurs die mysteriously

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 17, 2006

National

National

Nine golden langurs die mysteriously

Special Correspondent

Guwahati: At least nine golden langurs have died mysteriously in the Manas Tiger Reserve in lower Assam's Kokrajhar district over the past fortnight.

Khampa Bargoyari, executive member of the Bodoland Territorial Council, holding the forest and environment portfolios, told The Hindu that experts from the State Veterinary College would reach the Ultapani forest range on Friday.

He said he had spotted nine carcasses in the forest range of the Chirang Reserve Forest.

The BTC authorities have sent carcass samples to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bhopal, to ascertain whether the langurs died of any disease.

Samples have also been sent to the State forensic science laboratory to find out if the deaths were caused by human activity.

Carcasses buried deep

Mr. Bargoyari said the carcasses were buried deep and care was taken to ensure that humans or animals did not come into contact with these.

Rare species

The Manas Tiger Reserve is home to golden langur, a rare primate species.

Its population there is estimated to be around 1,000.

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