Non-human primates of Rajasthan

Abstract

The chapter describes socioecology of the Rhesus Monkey Macaca mulatta and Hanuman Langur or Northern Plains Gray Langur Semnopithecus entellus found in Rajasthan. The forest-dwelling Rhesus Monkey has successfully invaded human habitats, even up to the extent of creating menace in many towns and cities of Rajasthan. On the contrary, Hanuman Langur is a bit shy than Rhesus Monkey and large populations of these langurs exist in forests of Sariska Tiger Reserve, Ranthambhore National Park and in all the wildlife sanctuaries of Rajasthan, other than Desert National Park and Tal Chhaper Wildlife Sanctuary. Although Hanuman Langurs have also made their way to human settlements of the state, they have not caused much havoc. Habitat depletion has been described as a major cause of encroachment to human habitations like villages, towns or cities. Since both the monkey species have been well-studied in nature by the authors, details of group organization, feeding and foraging, reproductive behaviour, social communication, morphology, sociobiology and ecology are thoroughly described in this chapter. In addition, infanticide in Hanuman Langurs has been mentioned as an interesting behaviour. Use of these monkeys in a variety of biomedical researches in the laboratories of the state had received great opposition from NGOs working for the prevention of cruelty towards animals who finally succeeded in stopping this practice.