Date:28/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/04/28/stories/2006042807590300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

Slow growth among lion-tailed macaques may lead to loss of genetic diversity

Staff Correspondent

ENDANGERED: Lion-tailed macaque at the Mysore zoo. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

MYSORE: A study on the lion-tailed macaque, an endangered species, has shown that low number of births with large fluctuations between years and high infant mortality have been a persistent problem in the long-term viability and management of the species in captivity. The results of the study conducted by Mewa Singh of the Department of Psychology, University of Mysore, and Werner Kaumanns and Ellen Krebs of Zoologischer Garten Koln, Germany, have been published in the inaugural issue of `mySCIENCE', a bi-annual science journal published by Mysore University.

The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) is one of the most endangered of the macaque species listed in the Red Data Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), 2003. The species is endemic to the Western Ghats in South India, and is of conservation concern owing to its small numbers in the natural habitats, small area of occupancy and fragmentation of the remaining habitats. At present, there are about 3,500 of them in the wild and around 600 in captivity.

The study has shown that there is a significant proportion of adult females that do not breed, and that population growth is slow. It has warned that the slow population growth posed the risk of loss of genetic diversity.

The objective of the study was to propose an assessment of the biological potential of a captive population at any given point of time, which can help predict future population dynamics. "The species that are endangered in their wild habitat also need to be maintained as sustainable populations in captivity," the study said.

The study said that although captive breeding programmes for the species had been taken up in North America, Europe and India, there was a need to standardise the management practices for the captive population.

The International Studybook for Lion Tailed Macaque, 1981, traces the list from the first lion-tailed macaque in captivity in 1885.

In India, a coordinated breeding programme for lion-tailed macaques has been initiated at Vandalur Zoo in Chennai, Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, Mysore and Thiruvananthapuram Zoo.

The study said the present captive population of 65 animals with only a few breeding females spread in several institutions might require replenishment for it to become potentially viable population.

On the number of lion-tailed macaques found in the wild in India, a recent study sketched the population size, number of groups, density and demography in Periyar Hills, Annaimalai Hills, Silent Valley, Sringeri Range and Sirsi-Honnavara forests.