IN SHORT
Stable Population: Despite challenges like habitat loss and human pressure, the Lion-tailed Macaque (LTM) population in Uttara Kannada, which is the largest in the nation, remains stable.
Detailed Study: In the Sharavathi Valley LTM Sanctuary in Karnataka, there are 730 LTMs, according to a report by SACON, which is under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. This indicates the population is healthy.
Habitat Concerns: The sanctuary, which is 930.16 sq km, is at risk from human activity, fragmented habitats, and encroachment. This underscores the need for better management and conservation activities.
Conservation Measures: To ensure the long-term survival of LTMs, recommendations include creating village forest committees, assigning a dedicated officer, and fixing habitats.
In Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, the population of Lion-tailed Macaque (LTM) has been observed to remain steady in spite of the obstacles caused by habitat loss, fragmentation, and human activity. The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, the Karnataka Forest Department, and the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) worked on a comprehensive scientific study that generated this positive update.
Study Findings
730 of these rare and endangered primates make the Sharavathi Valley Lion-tailed Macaque Sanctuary home, according to a thorough report on the population situation of LTMs and other diurnal arboreal species in and around the sanctuary. With the species’ confined distribution to the Western Ghats rainforests, this makes it the biggest known group of LTMs in the nation—and probably the whole planet.
Habitat Overview
Covering many forest ranges, including Kyadagi, Siddapur, Honnavar, Gerusoppa, Bhatkal, Kumta, Kagar, and Kargal, the expansive 930.16 sq km Sharavathi Valley LTM Sanctuary. The sanctuary is not safe to invasion, even if it provides a rather decent environment. The integrity of the environment is at risk by areca trees, rice fields, and the roughly 15,000 people that live in the woodland sections.
Conservation Challenges
Honnavali N. Kumara, Principal Scientist at SACON, noted that conserving habitat continuity is essential to LTM conservation. He underlined the need to prevent the conversion of Myristica marshes, one of the main macaque food sources, into agricultural areas. In addition, it is very important to address the villagers’ indiscriminate harvesting of non-timber forest products like Garcinia gummigutta, which robs macaques of their food.
Proposed Solutions
The study makes many suggestions for actions to enhance conservation efforts:
- Dedicated Management: Providing a single, committed officer for the sanctuary.
- Village Forest Committees: Creating committees to control forest production and exploitation.
- Habitat Restoration: Habitat restoration includes protecting high-voltage transmission lines to reduce the risk of accidents as well as regenerating habitats and corridors.
Vasanth Reddy, the Conservator of Forests at Canara Circle, verified that a request for a dedicated officer had been submitted, a sign of progress toward better management.
The results of this investigation show how crucial it is to maintain conservation efforts in order to preserve the lion-tailed macaque population in Sharavathi Valley. By means of cooperative management and community engagement, it is essential to ensure the enduring existence of these distinct primates and their natural environments.
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