Study on Lion-Tailed Macaques
By: Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS), Bengaluru
Lead: Sikha Hariharan (Doctoral Fellow)
Location: Silent Valley National Park, Kerala
Methodology
- GPS tracking of two macaque troops
- Analysis of vertical space use & movement patterns
- Focus on canopy levels and resource patches
Key Findings
- Buffer Zone Troop (High human presence):
- Small home range, 94.2% in mid-canopy
- Avoided forest floor (due to threats)
- Core Zone Troop (Low human presence):
- Larger range, frequent use of forest floor
- More terrestrial behavior
Insights
- Macaques are not strictly arboreal
- Show ecological flexibility even in undisturbed forests
- Movement reflects awareness of food, safety, and threats
Conservation Needs
- Plan for 3D forest structure
- Ensure canopy connectivity
- Protect buffer zones
Use movement as early warning for environmental changes
Commitment to Internal Reservation for SCs
Announced By
- Chief Minister: Siddaramaiah
- Based on: 2023 election manifesto promise
Purpose of the Survey
- To collect empirical data on Scheduled Castes (SC) sub-castes
- Fill gaps from 2011 census, which lacked sub-caste data
Oversight
- Commission Headed by: Retired High Court Judge H.N. Nagamohan Das
- Report submission: Within 60 days of data collection
Legal Basis
- Articles 15(4) & 16(4): Allow special provisions for backward classes.
- SC Rulings:
- EV Chinnaiah (2004): Internal sub-categorization struck down.
- Davinder Singh (2020): Referred to larger bench, allowing it if empirical data
🏛️ Key Committees
- Justice A.J. Sadashiva Commission (2012):
- Suggested 4-way SC division: SC (Left), SC (Right), Touchables, Others.
- Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission (2023–25):
- Currently conducting caste survey in Karnataka to support data-driven internal reservation.
