Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

ACTIVITY AND DIETARY SPECTRUM OF GOLDEN LANGUR (TRACHYPITHECUS GEEI) IN KAKOIJANA RESERVE FOREST, ASSAM, INDIA

A. Chakravarty and P.K. Saikia

Abstract

Langurs’ activity patterns and time allocation are primarily determined by environmental and habitat conditions. Activity pattern and feeding behaviour of golden langurs (Trachypithecus geei) were studied in Kakoijana Reserve Forest from January, 2015, to December, 2017. Focal animal scan sampling of six social troops (n = 11–20 individuals per troop) was done, and data were collected with a fixed time interval of 5 minutes from dawn to dusk. A total of 9940 scans were collected, and the golden langur has allocated the most time to resting in the study area (52.22 ±SD 3.11%), followed by feeding (28.87 ± 3.14), travelling (7.93± 1.47%), vigilance (6.51± 1.59%), grooming (3.40 ± 0.86%) and other miscellaneous activities comprising1.07± 0.86% (n = 144). About 60% of total daily food was composed of leaves, followed by fruits (13.69±14.41%) and flowers (7.75± 9.91%). A total of 134 food plant species were used by the study troops and recorded in the study area. Albizia chinensis (7.35%), Mikania micrantha (7.08%), Thunbergia grandiflora (6.00%), Litsea monopetala (5.11%), and Albizia procera (4.36%) were among the top annual food plant species of study troops. There was significant monthly and seasonal variation in the plant parts eaten. The finding help in the proper management and conservation of the isolated population of golden langurs, which are endemic to Assam, India.