SJIF IMPACT FACTOR: 4.402 CRDEEPJournals International Journal of Life Sciences Devagiri G.M. et.al., Vol. 3 No.4 ISSN: 2277-93x 178 Online version available at: www.crdeep.com International Journal of Life Sciences Vol. 3. No. 4. 2014. Pp.178-188 ©Copyright by CRDEEP. All Rights Reserved. Full Length Research Paper Population Status and Distribution of the Endangered Lion Tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) in Kodagu, Central Western Ghats, India Devagiri G. M. 1 *, Sanjay Tomar 2 , Anil Kumar Khaple 3 , Santosh Hubballi 3 , Maruti Gurav 3 , Shrinivas Nayak 4 and S. Mohan 3 1 Associate Professor & Head, Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Forestry, University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (S), Ponnampet -571 216, Kodagu, India. 2 Scientist, ICRAF-South Asia, NASC, Pusa Campus, New Delhi. 3 Research Fellows, Department of Natural Resource Management, College of Forestry, University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (S), Ponnampet -571 216, Kodagu, India. 4 Range Forest Officer, Srimangala Range, Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary, Kodagu, India. *Corresponding Author: Devagiri G.M. Abstract The Brahamagiri Wild Life sanctuary which falls under Central Western Ghats of Karnataka was surveyed during March-April 2011 to assess the status and distribution of the endangered lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus). A total of 11 individuals in two troops were sighted during the survey. These troops were sighted in Abailu (CPT-14) and Narimalai (CPT-12) compartments which are relatively undisturbed areas. In addition to LTM, other associated species were also recorded which included 9 troops of common langur, 1 troop of Nilgiri langur and 23 No. of Malabar giant squirrels. The present study also reviews the population status in the region from 1985 to 2011. The present paper also suggests suitable management strategies for inclusion in the working plan. Key words: Lion-tailed macaque, Macaca silenus, Central Western Ghats, Bramhagiri Wild Life Sanctuary, endangered primate, population status. Introduction The Lion-Tailed Macaque (Macaca silenus) is endemic to the tropical rainforests of the Western Ghats. It is considered the ancestor of all Asian macaques, since it is probably the direct descendent of the first macaque to reach Asia (Macaca paleoindica), nearly 5 million years ago, more or less the time when man evolved. This ancestor, the fossils of which have been obtained from Shiwalik Hills, is thought to have reached Southeast Asia through southern India. Geo-climatic changes during the Pleistocene, especially glaciations and the monsoonal climate isolated the ancestral stock to the Western Ghats, whereas the stock which had reached Southeast Asia underwent repeated speciation to give rise to most of the extant macaques. The Lion tailed macaque is a descendant of that stock which was isolated in the Western Ghats. Having been isolated in the tropical rainforests for all its life, the species shows striking adaptations to this habitat. Even within historical times, the Lion-Tailed Macaque (LTM) was distributed as a contiguous population from the southern end of the Western Ghats to well into the state of Maharashtra. Over the past many centuries, however, its distribution range in the north has shrunk to just north of the Sharavati River in Karnataka, as most of the rainforests in the states of Maharashtra and Goa were wiped out. Similarly, the lowland rainforests in Kerala and Karnataka were also wiped out, confining the lion-tailed macaque to higher elevations. Moreover, the remaining forests have been fragmented into numerous small isolated patches. Presently, therefore, the lion-tailed macaque occurs as numerous small populations. LTM belongs to kingdom Animalia, phylum chordate, class mammalian, order primates, family Cercopithecidae, genus Macaca and species silenus. An adult generally appears as a medium-sized macaque, having glossy black pelage, brownish grey to grayish white facial rough and a tufted tail. Males are larger in size and the tail-tuft more developed than that of females. Body weight of male and female varies from 6.75 kg and 2.28 kg, respectively. Head appears as crown blackish, frontal hairs directed backwards with hairs on vertex radiating to form a whorl. Face blackish massive ruff on either side of head, meeting below the chin, brownish to grayish white in colour and lips black. The newborn has pale pink skin with brown hairs. After a month, the skin darkens to pale brown and hairs to black. LTM, an almost entirely arboreal mammal, is endemic to the rainforests of the Western Ghats of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Due to its highly selective feeding habits, limited range of occupancy (about 2500 sq. km.), delayed sexual maturity, long inter-birth intervals, low population turnover and a small remaining wild population, the species has been classified as endangered (IUCN