The Himalayan Grey Langur Project is a conservation initiative to conserve the endemic and Endangered Himalayan Grey Langur (Semnopithecus ajax) in the western Himalayas, Chamba-Himachal Pradesh. The Alliance for Zero Extinction species is confined to Chamba Valley, a district in Himachal Pradesh state in northern India. Virtually unknown since its description in 1928 from a skin specimen by Reginald Innes Pocock, the Langur faces numerous threats ranging from forest degradation, deforestation, forest fires human-wildlife conflict and other development activities. These might in effect be threatening the viability of the species with an incredibly low population of less than 500 individuals with less than 250 mature adults. Data deficiency on the species’ distribution, biology, and ecological preferences deters any proper conservation action in the region for the Langur.

Semnopithecus ajax adult females with infant at Gajnoi

The Himalayan Grey Langur Project seeks to address aforementioned issues through scientific research and active on-field participatory conservation. In its first phase, the project is endeavoring to establishing baseline data on the Himalayan Grey Langur distribution, habitat, and conservation threats. Stakeholders are now identified and the ground work to establish a stakeholder managed and monitored conservation initiative has been initiated. The second and forthcoming phases will see the project expanding its research and conservation activities in the region and is looking to raise more funds for the same.

Semnopithecus ajax adult male

The project is funded by Conservation Leadership Programme’s Future Conservationist Award, Rufford Small Grants and Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund.

The Team:
Martina Anandam, Tariq Ahmed Shah and P. Vishal Ahuja

For more details on the project please write to: zooreach@zooreach.org