Renowned primatologist Mewa Singh favoured an experimental re-introduction of Lion Tailed Macaques (LTM), an endangered species endemic to Western Ghats, as a measure to revive the dwindling numbers of the species.
“About 30 per cent of LTMs are at risk. Re-introduction of captive bred LTMs may become necessary soon,” he said, on Wednesday. He was delivering a talk at the All India Zoo Directors Workshop, organised by Ministry of Environment of Forests, Central Zoo Authority (CZA), Zoo Authority of Karnataka and Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, in Mysore.
With only about 3,500 LTMs remaining in the wild, habitat destruction of these arboreal animals are affecting their survival.
Canopy continuity — presence of tall trees for LTMs to move about — has been lost. LTMs have therefore been forced to come down the trees, resulting in LTM deaths in road accidents. A total of 49 populations, which are isolated in groups, now exist in the Western Ghats, he said.
Among the concerns in the conservation of LTMs is their low breeding rate, Mewa Singh said. “With a lifespan of about 20 years in the wild, a female contributes only an average of three offsprings in a lifetime. In contrast, bonnet macaques have as many as 17 offsprings in their lifetime,” he noted.
Breeding conservation
Pointing out that LTMs had large dietary adaptations, he said, this made the species suitable for breeding conservation programmes.
Speaking on the conservation programmes taken up in North America and Europe, he said, Indian breeding programmes must draw parallels from Europe, as North American programmes of selective breeding of LTMs has not gone well. In India, a coordinated breeding programme taken up by CZA of LTMs have only been of little success in Mysore Zoo and Arignar Anna Zoological Park, he said.
Breeding problems of this endangered species is yet to be understood, he said noting other constraints in reviving the population of LTMs.
Veterinarian Dr S S M S Khadri said, expertise in handling wild animals in free range conditions has become vital, following an increase in man-animal conflicts.