Doomdooma: A solitary male Golden Langur travelled at least 32.5 km across four locations in Assam’s Nalbari district over six months, moving through villages, agricultural fields and urban areas using scattered trees and bamboo clumps for shelter and movement, according to a scientific study published on October 26.
The study, published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, examines how the primate moved beyond its known distribution through areas increasingly affected by human activity.
Researchers Bhaskarjyoti Dutta, Jonmani Kalita, Parimal Chandra Ray and Bidyut Kumar Das recorded 12 sightings of the same adult male between August 8, 2025, and January 18, 2026. The animal was spotted at four locations: Dahudi, Tihu, Gamarimuri (Kaithalkuchi) and Nalbari town.
Researchers identified the same individual in all the sightings through a distinctive scar near its mouth, along with its age, sex and general coat condition.
The langur travelled through areas without continuous forest cover. It used isolated Peepal (Ficus religiosa), Atha Dimoru (Ficus auriculata) and Rain Trees (Samanea saman), as well as bamboo clumps, as temporary shelters and routes across agricultural fields, homestead groves and built-up areas.
According to the study, the animal covered a minimum straight-line distance of 32.5 km. Its actual route may have been longer, depending on the availability of tree cover.
Researchers said the movement was consistent with male-biased dispersal, a behaviour in which young or displaced males leave their groups in search of suitable habitats or mating opportunities. No females or juveniles were seen accompanying the animal.
During its journey, the langur faced several risks, including electrocution from uninsulated power lines, road accidents and attacks by free-ranging dogs.
The researchers recommended insulating or temporarily disconnecting power lines near areas where the animal is sighted, controlling traffic speeds and setting up local emergency response teams involving forest officials, veterinarians and trained volunteers.
The Golden Langur is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. India’s population of the species is estimated at around 6,000–6,500, with most of the animals living in isolated populations in western Assam.
The researchers cautioned that the movement of a single animal should not be considered an expansion of the species’ geographical range. They said the findings show the role of isolated trees and small green patches in connecting fragmented habitats.