Doomdooma: The electrocution of a rare endangered golden langur at Kuchiya Kata village under the Kakoijana Reserved Forest in Assam’s Bongaigaon district on Friday has sparked widespread outrage, with prominent Upper Assam wildlife conservationist Devajit Moran calling the incident a “preventable tragedy” and blaming official apathy for the repeated deaths of the globally endangered primate.
Speaking exclusively to Northeast Now, Moran expressed profound grief over the incident, saying, “How many more golden langurs must die before the authorities finally act? Today’s death is shocking and heartbreaking, but sadly it is not the first. Repeated electrocution of these endangered primates reflects a serious failure to prioritise wildlife conservation. This was a preventable tragedy, and timely intervention could have saved this precious life.”
The golden langur was electrocuted on Friday morning after reportedly coming into contact with a live power line near the forest fringe at Kuchiya Kata. The incident once again exposed the growing threat posed by unsafe electrical infrastructure to the endangered species inhabiting the Kakoijana landscape.
The death triggered anger among local residents and conservationists, who alleged that repeated appeals to strengthen protection measures have largely gone unanswered.
Villagers warned that they would intensify their agitation, including blocking the national highway, if immediate steps were not taken to prevent further fatalities.
Moran further alleged that unchecked environmental degradation has compounded the threats facing the species. “Illegal extraction of stone, timber and sand continues unabated in ecologically sensitive areas, while the protection of rare wildlife remains grossly inadequate. The Forest Minister must personally visit Kakoijana, assess the situation on the ground and ensure immediate, long-term measures to protect the remaining golden langurs. We cannot afford to lose another life because of official inaction,” he said, while also thanking the villagers for their unwavering commitment to safeguarding the endangered primate.
Following the incident, officials from the Forest Department, the Electricity Department and the district administration, including the Deputy Commissioner, visited the site to assess the situation.
The death of the endangered primate cast a pall of gloom over Kuchiya Kata village, where residents gathered to pay their last respects before bidding an emotional farewell to the animal.
Wildlife conservationists from across Assam also expressed concern, describing the latest electrocution as another stark reminder of the urgent need for coordinated conservation measures to protect one of the state’s most iconic and endangered species.