Reported by Manoj Kumar Ojha
Doomdooma: The death of an infant monkey along National Highway-37 near Tipuk Tea Factory in Upper Assam’s Doomdooma in Tinsukia district on Monday morning has once again highlighted the growing threats faced by wildlife amid rapid infrastructure expansion and habitat degradation in the region.
The carcass of the monkey was found lying beside the highway under the jurisdiction of the Doomdooma Forest Division.
The area is surrounded by high-voltage power transmission lines and newly electrified railway tracks carrying 25,000-volt overhead wires, while continuous heavy rainfall has lashed the region over the past several days.
Local residents suspect that the infant monkey may have become separated from its troop during the incessant rain before accidentally coming into contact with exposed or low-hanging electric wires.
However, some residents noted that injuries on the animal’s face suggest that the possibility of a road accident cannot be ruled out.
A wildlife conservationist from Upper Assam said the incident reflects the mounting pressure on animals living near expanding human settlements and transport corridors.
“Deforestation, railway electrification, increasing highway traffic and shrinking green cover are forcing monkeys and other wildlife into extremely unsafe zones. Young animals are often the first victims in such circumstances,” the conservationist said.
Another wildlife expert stressed the urgent need for ecological safeguards in developmental projects.
“Infrastructure growth should not come at the expense of wildlife survival. Proper monitoring of electric lines, installation of insulated systems and preservation of tree corridors are essential to reduce such animal fatalities,” he added.
Residents also alleged that hundreds of trees were felled during the recent railway electrification work between Makum and Dangari, severely disrupting the natural habitat and movement corridors of monkeys in the area.
The incident has intensified calls for stronger wildlife protection measures and environmentally sensitive infrastructure planning in Assam’s ecologically fragile regions.