Inspired by a childhood encounter in Bhutan, a wildlife biologist is helping to reduce conflicts between farmers and the endangered golden langur monkey.
The Gee’s golden langur, Trachypithecus geei, is a monkey found in a small forest belt in India and Bhutan; considered to be a good omen and is one of the world’s top 25 most endangered primates.
Kuenzang Dorji, a primatologist at the Bhutanese government’s Nature Study Center says that his research focuses on the relationship between two vulnerable populations in Bhutan’s forests: endangered golden langurs and marginalized farmers.
“This work is particularly timely as the population of endangered golden langurs is declining, and they are increasingly exposed to preventable anthropogenic threats such as roadkill and electrocution,” he says, “Intervention is necessary to reduce langur mortality, while also addressing the livelihood challenges faced by marginal farmers due to crop damage by wildlife species.”
Bhutan’s 2008 constitution enshrined a 60 percent forest cover into law, but hydroelectric power projects, road construction and housing development, has forced many of the country’s 2,500 golden langurs into closer contact with humans and turning encounters once thought of as good omens into open conflict.
Dorji explains that by mapping human-langur interaction hotspots, devising non-lethal methods to protect crops and conducting educational outreach programs, he and his team are able to reduce human pressures on endangered golden langurs.
“Finding practical and sustainable solutions is crucial to ensure the food security of vulnerable communities,” he says, “Approaches such as citizen science, community participation in research and conservation efforts, dynamic leadership, conservation policies, and adherence to Buddhist principles offer endless hope for Bhutan to become a conservation champion.”
On May 1, 2024, Her Royal Highness Princess Anne presented a £50,000 (about $62,500) Whitley Award from UK charity the Whitley Fund for Nature to Dorji, for his work to protect the endangered golden langur.
Beautiful Bhutan
Dorji was raised with nine siblings in the untouched landscape of eastern Bhutan and was supported by his father, who he says recognized the power of education in furthering his dedication to conservation beyond his small village.
“My fascination with the endangered golden langur began in grade 4 when a teacher described the monkey as golden in color, endangered, and endemic to Bhutan and India,” he says, “I first encountered this golden, leaf-eating monkey during high school, an encounter believed to be auspicious and one that solidified my belief in the importance of conserving this iconic species.”
Dorji would go on to become a park ranger and began conservation research using trial-and-error methods, before going on to hone his techniques and teach others.
“I initiated my work with tigers using modern survey techniques such as camera trapping, techniques already established in countries where conservation research has gained momentum but not yet in Bhutan,” he says, adding that in countries like Bhutan, conservation research faces challenges due to a lack of professional expertise and trained personnel, as well as the rugged mountain terrain.
Dorzi explains that scientists from the Global South possess deep-rooted knowledge of their local environments, cultures, and communities, as well as firsthand experience dealing with the impacts of global challenges such as poverty, environmental degradation, and health disparities.
“I firmly believe in local scientists as catalysts for sustainable change, rooted in community wisdom,” he says, adding that his activities are guided by Bhutan’s development philosophy of Gross National Happiness, which ensures meeting the needs of local people as well as the langurs.
Preserving Primates In Madagascar
In another developing country, Mamy Razafitsalama, Madagascar country director for NGO Planet Madagascar has been working since 2015 on a project to improve livelihoods and reduce forest fires in Madagascar, where 98% of lemur species are now threatened and a third are critically endangered.
Madagascar is the only country with a native lemur population, it has already lost 80% of its natural areas and continues to lose an estimated 200,000 hectares annually to deforestation, according to a 2023 study.
“The objective of this project is to protect 357 hectares of forest fragments and 4000 hectares of continuous forest by reducing the impact and number of fire while increasing local community’s awareness,” Razafitsalama says, adding that since 2018, the project has also planted over 147,000 trees, to create forest corridors.
“We have a good relationship and are respected by the local community which we think an opportunity for conserving lemur and forest in Ankarafantsika National Park,” he says, referring to a 135,000 hectare (over 330,00 acre) tropical forest reserve in Madagascar’s north.
