In the rainforest of the Western Ghats, a mountain range located in India, lives a group of peculiar monkeys known as lion-tailed macaques. India's Western Ghats forest is home to some of the most beautiful creatures, found only in these forests and nowhere else on Earth.
The lion-tailed macaque, Macaca silenus, is a symbol of this endemic diversity in this biodiversity hotspot. Less than 2,500 specimens survive today, making them one of the most endangered primate species in the world.
Since these primates have evolved in the jungle, they have a simple stomach, which allows them to easily digest fruits, seeds and insects. This adaptation has helped them to inhabit especially these tropical forests where this type of food is available throughout the year.
The other endemic primate species is the Nilgiri Langur which are herbivores that feed purely on leaves. They do not compete with each other directly. Large fruit trees are in high demand and are sometimes the cause of fights between rival groups for the rights to them. It is usual for the alpha male of the group to take part in these fights, although other monkeys sometimes join in as well.
Males have canines that they mostly display to rival males. These long canines come into use when the macaques enjoy feasts such as watermelon and Cullenia. Being one of the largest meat-eating macaques in the world, the Lion-tailed macaque sometimes hunts and preys on young flying squirrels.
Cullenia is one of the key species in the Western Ghats. Its flowers and fruits serve as food for many rainforest species including the Lion-tailed Macaque. Macaques tend to explore a lot and sometimes discover easy ways to find food.
These monkeys earned their names from their distinctive appearance. Both males and females have majestic, grayish-white manes around their faces. The black tufts of fur at the end of their tails are very similar to a lion's tail. Their babies are born with lighter-colored faces, and their manes don't grow until they are about two months old.
This species measures about 40 to 60 centimetres and weighs up to ten kilograms. It is one of the smallest of the 23 macaque species distributed across Asia, North Africa and Gibraltar.
Like other macaques, lion-tailed macaques have large cheek pouches. These pouches can carry almost as much food as their stomach can hold. The tough skin on their buttocks allows them to sit and sleep on tree branches.
A number of roads criss-cross the forest, dividing it into isolated fragments. These primates rarely stop on the undisturbed forest floor, but are now forced to climb down to cross these roads. About 25% of the lion-tailed macaques were found in small, isolated fragments of the forest.
This often ends with tragic consequences affecting the population of this endangered species. The reproductive cycles of these macaques are very slow. The female gives birth only once every three years and only the dominant female is pregnant. Due to the low birth rate and the high age of first birth, these populations have very little chance of recovery.
A healthy population of 32 groups of these macaques was found in central Karnataka giving hope for the future of these gentlemen of the Western Ghats. With a wild population of less than 2,500, the lion-tailed macaque is one of the most endangered species in the world.
