Eight Golden Langurs rescued from an alleged wildlife trafficking network were successfully released into the Ultapani Forest Reserve inside Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park in Kokrajhar, Assam.

Key Highlights

• Eight rescued Golden Langurs were released into the Ultapani Forest Reserve after being rescued by the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police and the Forest Department.
• One adult female langur died due to suffocation during illegal transportation.
• Nine wildlife traffickers were arrested, including suspects from West Bengal, Chirang district, and one Bangladeshi national.
• Two vehicles, 13 mobile phones, and incriminating documents were seized during the operation.
• Forest officials suspect the langurs were captured from the Ultapani landscape and were being smuggled to Bangladesh, indicating the presence of an international wildlife trafficking network.

About the Golden Langur

• • Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei) is one of India’s rarest endemic primates, found only in western Assam and adjoining Bhutan.
  • The Golden Langur (Trachypithecus geei) was discovered in 1953 by naturalist E.P. Gee. 
  • They are arboreal leaf-eating creatures and are only found in a small transboundary region in Western Assam (primarily in the areas of the Manas Biosphere Reserve) and South-central Bhutan.
  • It inhabits tropical and subtropical evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, depending on continuous forest canopies for movement.
  • It is one of the most range-restricted primates in South Asia which inhabit a restricted area bordered by the foothills of Bhutan (north), the Manas River (east), the Sankosh River (west), and the Brahmaputra River (south).
  • In Assam, it mainly inhabits: Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon & Chirang and adjoining forest areas
  • A key habitat is the Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, India’s first sanctuary declared specifically to protect the golden langur.
  • The other habitats of the golden langur are Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve, Raimona National Park in Kokrajhar district, Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park, and Kakoijana Reserve Forest in Bongaigaon district.
  • The species is considered a flagship species for forest conservation in the Bodoland landscape.
  • The species is known for their distinctly long tails and gold-orange coat.

• The species is strictly canopy-dwelling (arboreal) and rarely comes to the ground

Conservation Status

• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN): Endangered
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I (Highest legal protection)
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES): Appendix I

Threats

• Habitat fragmentation, deforestation, road construction, electrocution, human encroachment, and illegal wildlife trafficking continue to threaten its survival.

Conservation Efforts

• Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park and the Ultapani Forest Reserve are important habitats for the species.
• Community organisations such as the Bodoland Golden Langur Association and Green Heart Nature Club actively support awareness and conservation.
• Installation of artificial canopy bridges along State Highway-14 and around Chakrashila wildlife sanctuary in Kokrajhar district has reduced road accidents–related deaths of the golden langur.
• Golden Langur Conservation Breeding Programme was instituted in 2012 as an attempt to save the species. The initiative had been mandated by the Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi.

 About Sikhna Jwhwlao

• • The 316.29 sq. km area of Chirang-Ripu Reserve Forest, was recognised as Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park.
    • The Chirang-Ripu Reserve Forest, which was notified as the Chirang-Ripu Elephant Reserve and designated as a MIKE Site.

• The Sikhna Jwhwlao will become Assam’s eighth national park, as declared by the State Cabinet on 16th Feb, 2025.

• It is situated along the India-Bhutan border, straddles between the districts of Kokrajhar and Chirang in the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR).
• Physical Boundaries:
  • North: Bounded by Bhutan, extending from the Saralbhanga River to Geylekphu along the Bhur River.
  • East: Runs almost parallel to Bhur river through Aie Block of Manas Reserve Forest.
  • South: Runs along the Ride-9 boundary, till it touches the left bank of Saralbhanga river.
  • West: Bordered by the Saralbhanga River and the eastern boundary of Raimona National Park, including Ultapani and Labanyapur Forest Villages.
• With an area of 316.29 sq.km, it is the third National Park in the BTR and the eighth in the state.
• With this addition, Assam now has the 3rd-highest number of national parks in India, after Madhya Pradesh (11 NPs) and Andaman & Nicobar (9 NPs).
• The national park will serve as a crucial ecological corridor, connecting Raimona & Manas NP in Assam, Buxa Tiger Reserve in West Bengal, and Phibsoo Wildlife Sanctuary in Bhutan.
  • It is a part of the “Greater Manas Conservation Landscape”.
• The National Park is home to a large number of golden langurs, one of the world’s most endangered primates, as well as elephants, rhinos, tigers, and leopards. 
• The major rivers flowing through the park are Saralbhanga, Samukha, Champabati, Bhur, Laopani, and Dholpani, all originate from the Bhutan hills and serve as significant tributaries to the Brahmaputra River.
• It comprises Haltugaon Forest Division and Jharbari forest range in Kokrajhar district and Runikhata Range in Chirang district.
• The Park boasts twelve distinct forest types, including moist Sal forests, moist mixed deciduous forests, savannah forests, sub-Himalayan high alluvial semi-evergreen forests, riparian fringing forests, Khair-Sissoo forests, savannah forests, and orchids.
• The park is named after the legendary Bodo hero, Sikhna Jwhwlao.
  • Sikhna Jwhwlao, also known as Jaolia Dewan, was a prominent figure in the Anglo-Bhutan War of 1865. 
  • The area where relics of Sikhna Jwhwlao’s reign remain is considered sacred by the Bodo people, who perform traditional worship rituals there annually.

Exam Hook: Prelims Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding the Golden Langur:

1. It is endemic to western Assam and adjoining Bhutan.
2. It is listed as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
3. It is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 only

Answer: (c) 1, 2 and 3

One-Line Wrap

The successful release of rescued Golden Langurs highlights the importance of strong wildlife law enforcement, habitat conservation, and cross-border cooperation to protect one of India’s most endangered primates.