Bridge for endangered monkeys

Times of India, 19th Sep '08

B Aravind Kumar | TNN

Chennai: The state forest department has come up with a simple solution to reduce the number of lion-tailed macaque dying along the road leading to Valparai, a hill station in Coimbatore district — bamboo bridges connecting the treetops on both sides of the road to facilitate easy and safe movement of the endangered species.
The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) lives only in the Western Ghats, and derives the name from its lion-like mane and tail. “Puduthottam, a patch of rainforest located a couple of kilometres ahead of Valparai town, is home to about 150 lion-tailed macaques. There is a large group and many smaller groups,’’ says Dr H Basavaraju, field director, Anaimalai Tiger Reserve.
In the Indira Gandhi wildlife sanctuary, 520 lion-tailed macaques were spotted during the census in February 2008. Valparai range had 225. Apart from Puduthottam, small groups were seen in Kurangumudi and Thonimudi.
An arboreal species, the lion-tailed macaque leaves the safety of trees only to search for food on the forest floor. From Puduthottam, the monkeys have to cross the main road for food. Four adult monkeys were killed by speeding vehicles on the road in the past two months, says the field director.
Authorities in the Indira Gandhi wildlife sanctuary discussed the issue as the lion-tailed macaque is one of the most endangered primates whose habitat is fractured. A report was sent to chief wildlife warden A Sundararaju who instructed building of bridges across the road.
“It did not cost us a single rupee. There was plenty of broken bamboo left by herds of wild elephants in Valparai. We strung the bamboo together and built five bridges,” says Valparai forest ranger Manickam. “The bridges were built three days ago. A few monkeys have started using them,’’ the ranger says. Forest department personnel are monitoring the movement of the lion-tailed macaques to make modifications and improvements.

Good luck to the macaques!  My only in-the-wild sighting, so far, of these impressive monkey was way back in 1994, in the Periyar reserve.  We were on a walk in the forest, when we saw this macaque on a tree above us.  I dont think we had binoculars with us, but he was close enough for us to see his handsome head.  Look at the length of his tail! 


...That was a memorable trip...maybe I should write about the elephants gambolling on the wet hillside, Mr Balakrishnan at The Lake Palace, and being cold and wet in the rain with a bunch of laughing schoolkids for company, and a husband somewhat bemused at his hysterically giggly wife?!

One day I shall.