Losing its ground: A case study of fast declining populations of a 'least-concern' species, the bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata).

ABSTRACT: The populations of many species that are widespread and commensal with humans have been drastically declining during the past few decades, but little attention has been paid to their conservation. Here, we report the status of the bonnet macaque, a species that is considered 'least-concern' for conservation. We show that the widely ranging rhesus macaque is expanding its range into the distributional range of the bonnet macaque, a species endemic only to southern India. Bonnet macaques have very low abundance in forests of all types indicating that it is not a typically forest dwelling species. The traditionally preferred habitats of bonnet macaques have been Hindu temples/ tourist spots but our data reveal that nearly 50% population of bonnet macaques has disappeared from such previously

SUBMITTER: Erinjery JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5568106 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature