Status of Primates in Andhra Pradesh

Status of Primates in Andhra Pradesh - C. Srinivasulu & V. Nagulu

Introduction

Andhra Pradesh is the fifth largest state of India (12°30’ and 20°0’ N & 76°30’ and 85°0’), with an area of 2,75,068 km2. It sprawls across a greater part of the Deccan Plateau and has boundaries touching those of Orissa and Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh along the northeast, Maharashtra on the north, Karnataka on the west, Tamil Nadu on the south and Bay of Bengal along the east. A variety of forest types are found in the state, ranging from hills of the Eastern Ghats and moist to semi-evergreen forests in the riverine tracts of the mighty Godavari and Krishna. Other areas of the state are dominated by dry deciduous and open scrub, with patches of mangroves along the Godavari and Krishna estuaries. With a forest cover of 23.19% (63,814 km2; ICFRE, 1995), it is fourth in terms of forest cover in the country. The principal forest types (Champion & Seth 1968) of the state are Tropical Dry Deciduous forest (5A/ C1), Southern Tropical Thorn forest (6A/C1), Southern Tropical Moist Deciduous forest (3B/C2), Littoral forest (4A/L1) and Tidal Swamp Mangrove forest (4B/TSL). Dense forests cover an area of 25,008 km2, followed by open forest (21,870 km2), scrub (12,170 km2), and mangrove (390 km2).

Abstract

We briefly review the natural history, district-wise distribution and present-day status of non- human primates known to occur in Andhra Pradesh. Loris tardigradus is restricted in distribution to 3 southern districts, while the other species, Macaca mulatta, M. radiata and Semnopithecus entellus, have been recorded throughout the state. Excepting Loris tardigradus, whose populations are under severe pressure due to rampant killing spurred by superstitious beliefs and the need for folk medicine, populations of other species are under moderate to low killing pressure and subject to lesser man–monkey conflicts.

Of a total of 23 districts the most forested is Khammam (45.4%), followed by Adilabad (40.2%) and East Godavari (33.3%), while the least forested are Nalgonda (1.1%) and Anantapur (2.0%). Three districts have forest covers of above 33% of the total geographical area of their own, 5 districts have forest covers ranging between 19–33% and in 15 districts the forest cover is >19%. Districts with less than 19% forest cover are Anantapur, Chittoor, Guntur, Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Krishna, Kurnool, Medak, Mehbubnagar, Nalgonda, Nellore, Nizamabad, Prakasam, Ranga Reddy and West Godavari (FSI, 1999).

Of the 15 species of non-human primates recorded from India, 4 species occur in Andhra Pradesh. In this paper, we briefly review the distribution and status of the primates of Andhra Pradesh. The data on population estimates are yet to be analysed and are not presented in this communication.

Slender Loris (Loris tardigradus)

This is a rare primate in the state, restricted to the districts of Chittoor, Cuddapah and Nellore (Table 1). Excepting the Chittoor district, the population seems to be on the decline in other areas. Threats to the species include habitat fragmentation and killing for folk medicine (Molur et al., 1998).

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Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta)

Common all over the state, they either occur naturally or have been introduced (Table 1). A population of 60–80 individuals has been recorded from the mangroves of the Godavari estuary. The population trend shows increasing numbers in areas where the species has been introduced, while in other areas it is stable, and decreasing in and around the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad and their environs (Srinivasulu, 1999).

Bonnet Macaque (M. radiata)

A common species, it has been recorded from all districts in the state (Table 1). This species shows a stable population trend throughout the state except East Godavari, West Godavari and Hyderabad districts, unlike the Rhesus macaque. Loss of habitat seems to be the major threat (Molur et al., 1998).

Hanuman Langur (Semnopithecus entellus)

This is also a common species in the state (Table 1). Good populations have been recorded all along the forested tracts of the state.

However, their population is on the decline in many areas as sightings have become rarer. Otherwise in 16 districts of the state the population is stable (Srinivasulu, 1999).

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Conservation Issues

There is no published document that cites hunting or poaching of primates in areas dominated by tribal populations in the state. Although, researchers of the Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati, have reported many instances of killing of Loris tardigradus, we have only one instance of hunting of the Hanuman langur by the Koyas in Eturnagaram Wildlife Sanctuary near Kamaram village.

Rhesus and Bonnet macaques have been problematic in some towns and cities from where many have been captured and released in forested tracts of the state, especially in the protected areas where pilgrim tourism exists. In certain areas where such releaze programmes have been undertaken, the monkey menace has resurfaced resulting in an increase in man–monkey conflicts.

Research on Primates in the State

There have been very few scientific studies or research projects on primates in Andhra Pradesh. Some of the studies worth mentioning are The Ecology of the Rhesus Macaque in Osmania University Campus, Hyderabad, and The Ecological Study of the Slender Loris in the Seshachalam Hills by Prof. N. Nanda Kumar of Sri Venkateshwara University, Tirupati, in collaboration with the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department, World Health Organization. More detailed studies are needed on the effects of biotic pressures and habitat fragmentation, and conservation of primates in the state.

Acknowledgements

The authors express their heartfelt gratitude to the officials of the Forest Department of Andhra Pradesh, especially the Chief Conservator of Forests and Conservator of Forests (Wildlife Management) for their cooperation. Divisional Forest Officers and the field staff helped us in many ways and they deserve more than mere thanks. We also thank the Head, Department of Zoology for encouragement and facilities. The first author (CS) acknowledges the financial help, in the form of Senior Research Fellowship, from CSIR, New Delhi.

References

Champion, H.G., & Seth, S.K. (1968) ‘A revised survey of Forest Types of India.’ Manager of publications, Government of India, Delhi.

FSI. (1991) The State of Forest Report, 1991. Forest Survey of India, Govt. of India.

ICFRE. (1995) Forestry Statistics 1995, Indian Council of Forest Research and Education, Dehradun, India.

Molur, S., Nameer, P.O. & Walker, S. (1998) Report of the Workshop ‘Conservation, Assessment and Management Plan for Mammals of India (BCCP—Endangered Species Project).’ Zoo Outreach Organization, Conservation Breeding Specialist Group, India, Coimbatore. pp. 176.

Srinivasulu, C. (1999) ‘Notes on mammals of Godavari estuary with special reference to Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary.’ Unpublished Report, 20 pp.

Table 1. District-wise Status of Primates in Andhra Pradesh

S.No.	District	Percent Forest Cover	No. of Protected Areas	L.tardigradus 1 2	M.mulatta 1 2	M.radiata 1 2	s.entellus 1 2
1	Adilabad	44.8	3	A –	P In	P* In	P St
2	Anantapur	10.3	–	P? NA	P* In	P St	P De
3	Chittoor	29.9	2	P St	P* In	P St	P St
4	Cuddapah	32.0	2	P De	A –	P St	P St
5	Godavari, East	29.9	2	A –	P St	P De	P De
6	Godavari, West	10.4	2	A –	P In	P De	P St
7	Guntur	14.2	2	A –	P* In	P St	P St
8	Hyderabad	–	2	A –	P De	P De	P De
9	Karimnagar	21.6	1	A –	P St	P* In	P De
10	Khammam	52.7	2	A –	P St	P St	P St
11	Krishna	7.6	1	A –	P St	P St	P St
12	Kurnool	19.8	2	A –	P* In	P St	P St
13	Medak	9.4	2	A –	P St	P St	P St
14	Mehbubnagar	16.5	1	A –	P St	P St	P St
15	Nalgonda	5.9	1	A –	P St	P St	P St
16	Nellore	19.2	2	P De	P* in	P St	P De
17	Nizamabad	22.6	1	A –	P St	P St	P De
18	Prakasam	24.1	2	A –	P* in	P St	P St
19	Ranga Reddy	9.7	1	A –	P De	P St	P De
20	Srikakulam	11.9	–	A –	P St	P* St	P St
21	Vishakapatnam	39.3	–	A –	P St	P* St	P St
22	Vizianagaran	18.3	–	A –	P St	P* St	P St
23	Warangal	28.8	2	A –	P St	P St	P St
	Total	23.19		P(3) & + ?(1)	P(16) & P*(6)	P(18) & P*(5)	+ (23)

1–Distribution Status, 2—Population Trend
‘P’—Present, ‘A’—Absent, ‘In’—Increasing, ‘St’—Stable, ‘De’—Decreasing, ‘?’—Probable, ‘*’—Introduced, ‘NA‘—Data Not Available