A new report on mixed species association between Nilgiri Langurs Semnopithecus johnii and Tufted Grey Langurs S. priam (Primates: Cercopithecidae) in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Western Ghats, India

Phylogenetic conservatism or rapid anthropogenic habitat modifications could increase the incidences of interspecific associations of Hanuman and Nilgiri langurs (Family: Cercopithecidae, subfamily: Colobinae) in the southern Western Ghats. Opportunistic surveys were conducted at the Silent Valley National Park, Kerala and around Devimalai Ghats, Tamil Nadu for Tufted Grey-Nilgiri Langur association. Based on the observations from Researchers, field assistants, forest staff, and local people, the data in terms of the time of the sighting, number of individuals, phenotypes of individuals, and the time the interaction lasted, were recorded. The study reports data on a troop of Nilgiri Langurs (N=13) around O Valley tea estate at Devimalai Ghat, Gudalur, Tamil Nadu with some hybrid looking individuals and a Tufted female Grey Langur amongst them. A total of six and two uni-male troops of Nilgiri Langurs and grey langurs respectively with Tufted female Grey Langurs, and aberrant coat colored infants observed at the Neelikkal section of Silent Valley National Park are also reported. The study reasonably speculates that there could be more such locations in the southern western ghats and emphasizes the need for more systematic surveys to understand and explore the ecology, behavior, molecular, and other likely factors contributing to the conservation of vulnerable Nilgiri langur (Semnopithecus johnii) populations.

Observations of Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus (Mammalia: Carnivora: Herpestidae) in the wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats, India

Brown Mongoose Herpestes fuscus is crepuscular in habit and rarely encountered. Information on its natural history and ecology is limited and consequently its conservation requirements are not well understood. We report observations of a Brown Mongoose feeding on a Nilgiri Langur Semnopithecus johnii carcass in the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve, southern India. A camera trap was deployed over the Nilgiri Langur carcass over 10 nights during which, the mongoose visited the carcass on eight nights. Based on the images captured, the mongoose behaviour was broadly categorized as vigilance, feeding, walking and grooming. The mongoose was most active between 03.30–06.00 h and 19.00–00.00 h. Additionally, we report observations of a pair of Brown Mongoose foraging, and an incident of road mortality. These observations will add to the limited current understanding of the species, necessary for assessing its conservation status and identifying interventions.

Cost effective and ex-situ (Seed Germination) conservation of Cullenia exarillata Robyns.an Endemic and Keystone species in Western Ghats, South India.

The Western Ghats is a chain of mountains and is one of the 33 recognized ecologically sensitive zones in the world. There are several centres of plant endemism and species richness within the Western Ghats. Cullenia exarillata Robyns is a large evergreen tree in the mid-elevation evergreen forests which is endemic to Western Ghats. This tree acts as a hot bed of activity when in flower and functions as a keystone resource for several species of arboreal mammals, including the endangered primate Lion tailed macaque and Nilgiri langur. A preliminary attempt is carried out to regenerate and restore the populations of C.exarillata. Seed germination studies were performed and seeds were treated using 3 different pre-sowing treatments. Seeds were soaked in Dithane-45 for 5minutes, in cow dung extract for two nights and in gibberillic acid (100 ppm) for 24 hours. Untreated seeds were also used as control. Dithane-45 treatment showed 80% seed germination and the cow dung extract treatment showed 20% seed germination. Dithane-45 treatment promotes speedy seed germination when compared to other treatments. Therefore, pre-sowing treatment with Dithane-45 for 5 minutes was more effective for this plant.

Are interspecific associations of primates in the Western Ghats a matter of chance? A case study of the lion-tailed macaque

When animals or groups of animals in their wild habitats come close to each other within a defined distance, it is termed as an association. Observing two groups of the lion-tailed macaque at Nelliyampathy and Andiparai forests of the Western Ghats of India, we asked whether the lion-tailed macaque associations with the sympatric Nilgiri langur and bonnet macaque were by chance or had any biological significance. Employing ‘all occurrences’ sampling, we recorded an association if a group of another primate species came within 30 m of the focal group of the lion-tailed macaque. Date, time, associating species, activity of the study species and of the associating species, type of interaction, aggressor and the recipient, species displaced and duration of the association were recorded. We used the Waser gas model to calculate the expected frequency and duration of associations and compared them with the observed associations. The lion-tailed macaque spent less time in associations than expected. The lion-tailed macaque and the Nilgiri langur initiated associations less often, and remained in association for less time, than expected by chance. Whereas the expected and observed initiation of associations between the lion-tailed macaque and the Nilgiri langur in Nelliyampathy was significantly different (expected rate = 153; observed rate = 64), in Andiparai, it was not (expected rate = 55.5; observed rate = 61). The expected and observed association duration was significantly different in Nelliyampathy (expected duration = 54 min; observed duration = 15 min) and Andiparai (expected duration = 48 min; observed duration = 19 min). In contrast, we detected few differences between observed and expected association frequency for the lion-tailed macaque and the bonnet macaque. Aggressive interactions were common in areas where density of the Nilgiri langur groups was high. This is the first study on Asian primates using the ideal gas approach to show that primates do not form active associations with each other.

GROUP-SIZE AND AGE-SEX COMPOSITION OF NILGIRI LANGUR Trachypithecus johnii (PRIMATES: CERCOPITHECIDAE) IN INDIA

Group size and group composition of Nilgiri langur (Trachypithecus johnii) was studied in two habitats of Parambikulam Tiger Reserve, Kerala, India. Group size and age-sex composition data was collected during scan sampling, 18 monitoring transect lines, road-strip count, and direct encounter of the groups. Mean group size value significantly differ between moist deciduous forest and evergreen forest. Group size was varied from 2 to 22. The maximum group size, 22 was recorded in evergreen forest habitat. The mean group size of Nilgiri langur is less in moist deciduous forest and higher in evergreen forest.