PhD Research- Behavioural Ecology of the Central Himalayan Langur (Semnopithecus schistaceus) in the Human dominated landscape: Multi-species interactions and conservation implications ​(ongoing) 

 Aims of this research
In this thesis, my goal was to investigate the behavioral and ecological adaptability of the understudied Central Himalayan langur (CHL) Semnopithecus schistaeus, in its high-altitude human-modified environment, and to contribute useful information for their conservation.  To do this, I took a multi-disciplinary approach, combining behavioral, sociological, ecological, and genetic information.  While a long-term study has previously been conducted on the species at a low-altitude site, Ramnagar in neighboring Nepal, the current study represents some of the first insights based on long-term research of the species in its high-altitude habitat in the central Himalayas. This study expands on the existing body of information about Semnopithecus spp. in the region based on long-term observations of identified individuals and DNA information on kinship.  This approach will provide new insights about the species that have not previously been possible to address.
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INDEPENDENT PROJECT- LIVESTOCK AND CENTRAL HIMALAYAN LANGUR INTERACTIONS IN THE HIGH-ALTITUDE MEADOWS OF THE GARHWAL HIMALAYAS, UTTARAKHAND, INDIA. FUNDED BY RUFFORD FOUNDATION (2016-2017)

Read full report here 
      Key outcomes 
  • ​​We found that 67% of the herbs consumed by the langurs were damaged by livestock which had an impact of plant growth and their availability to langurs. 
  • We also found three major groups (nematode, protozoa and trematodes) of gastrointestinal parasites in the livestock and langur populations.  It is most likely that the source of this infection is the meadows, and the high number of infected livestock foraging and defecating in the meadows could be responsible for the spill over of infections into langurs
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Independent Project-  Prescription for coping with a changing world climate: Medicinal diet of the virtually unknown Central Himalayan langurs in the high-altitude regions of the Garhwal Himalayas, India​. Funded by National Geographic Society. (2016-2017)

Key outcome 
  • This project reported first information about diet of langurs in the alpine meadows.
  • High percent of the herb in diet shows importance of these herbs in langurs diet which they might be consuming for the medicinal value.  
  • We found few medicinal plants species in langur diet which was reported by local people for potential medicinal use. These all findings gives basic data about the potential use of medicinal plants by langurs in the higher Himalayas and more detail study need to pursue for further confirmation of medicinal plant use by langurs. 
Read details here 

 Independent Project: Ecology and Conservation Status of the Virtually Unknown Central Himalayan
Langur in the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary, Northern India. ​Funded by Rufford Foundation  (2015-2016)

Key outcome 
  • Central Himalayan langur troops at different altitudes exhibited significant differences in the time spent on major behavioural activities
  • Conserving Carpinus viminea trees, the most important winter food resource for Central Himalayan langur.
  • Planting of more fodder crops in the forests near villages may thus reduce the pressure on agricultural fields and reduce the problem of langur-human conflict in these areas. 
Report of this project can be downloaded from here : Report Link 
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