News Highlight
Differences in altitude make the Himalayan Gray Langur, and other primate species in the same Himalayan habitat choose fruits as food options beyond their staple leaf menu.
Key Takeaway
- It was revealed that three primatologists studied the diet composition of five such groups in and around the Kalatop Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary in Himachal Pradesh.
Himalayan Gray Langur
- About
- Langurs are an important species as they occupy a key position in the food chains of many forest ecosystems. In India, most langurs come under the genus Semnopithecus.
- The Himalayan Gray Langur or the Chamba Sacred Langur (Semnopith- ecus ajax) is a colobine, meaning leaf-eating monkey.
- Distribution
- It is considered an endangered species globally as its population is estimated to be less than 1,500 mature individuals in 15-20 groups.
- In the Indian Subcontinent, their distribution is reported from Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan and Nepal.
- Features
- The Himalayan Grey Langur is present in a particular area only during some parts of the year.
- They change their locality during different seasons, depending upon the availability of food and environmental conditions.
- Protection status
- IUCN-Endangered.
The Kalatop Khajjiar Wildlife Sanctuary
- About
- The name Kalatop means ‘black cap‘, which refers to the thick, black forest cover on the highest hilltop in the sanctuary.
- Kalatop Khajjiar Sanctuary, or simply Kalatop Sanctuary, is an animal sanctuary at Kalatop and Khajjiar in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh.
- Location
- It is situated a few kilometres from the Chamba dam and Chamera reservoir on river Ravi.
- Flora and fauna
- There is dense deodar and fir forest.
- The sanctuary lies in the path of the Ravi River and is surrounded by coniferous and oak forests.
- Pheasants, serow and black bear are some of the common animals found here.
Wildlife Sanctuaries in Himachal Pradesh
- Great Himalayan National Park
- Bandli Sanctuary
- Daranghati Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kanwar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Khokhan Wildlife Sanctuary
- Chail Wildlife Sanctuary
- Churdhar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Dhauladhar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Shimla Water Catchment Wildlife Sanctuary
- Manali Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kais Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kugti Wildlife Sanctuary
Content Source: The Hindu