GUWAHATI: Two golden langurs—mother and her baby of Kakoijana Reserve Forest in lower Assam’s Bongaigaon district were killed after they were hit by a four-wheeler on Saturday evening. According to reports, the langurs were hit on NH 31 by a speeding car bearing registration number AS 19H 9535 when a group of 13 langurs was crossing the road.
The adult golden langur along with its baby died on the spot. Meanwhile, local people caught the car and handed over it to North Salmara Police Station. The driver of the car also surrendered to police.
Kakoijana Reserve Forest is one of the few habitats of endangered golden langur (Presbystis geei), which is listed in the category of rare species in the Red Data Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The animal has not been spotted anywhere except the Himalayan foothills along the Assam-Bhutan border.
Expressing his anguish, Dr. Ashoke Das, west Assam coordinator of leading wildlife NGO Aranyak said, “The number of accidents in this is increasing day by day which led to the death of many langurs in recent times. There are more than 10 signboards in Kakoijana area asking drivers to limit their speed. Unfortunately they are not paying heed to it.”
Earlier in February, another langur of Kakoijana Reserve Forest died due to electrocution.
