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Impact of the Common Langur, Semnopithecus Entellus Dufresne, 1797, (mammalia: Cercopithecidae), on Cultivated Crops and Fruits in Keshabphur, Bangladesh

Ashraful Kabir*
Saidpur Cantonment Public College, Saidpur Cantonment-5311, Nilphamari, Bangladesh

Trevor J. Hawkeswood
PO Box 842, Richmond, NSW, 2753, Australia

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

Since the Common Langur (Semnopithecus entellus Dufresne, 1797) (Mammalia: Cercopithecidae) has a medical impact with regards to human welfare studying its interactiions with humans is an important research topioc. The similarities with humans and especially people of Hindu religion do not disturb this long-tailed monkey; the Hindus always feed and care for them. This study was undertaken by the first author who consulted with various local people about their experiences with the Common Langur. Ancient inhabitants of this area mentioned that from 300-400 years ago these monkeys were living there. At first their population numbers totalled approximately 400-500 but now this number has declined to about only 70-80 individuals. Due to the scarcity of food, diseases, migration, road accidents, and electrocution from expoosed electric wires, some individuals perish. In the Keshabpur Upazila municipality area, most monkeys live on Banyan Tree (Ficus benghalensis L., Moraceae) and Sacred Fig Tree (Ficus religiosa L.) with their new-born babies and juveniles also. Sometimes they violent humans for food but none of these conflicts resulted in death to humans. The human-langur conflict was focused on various crop plants; out of 12 common crop species langurs damaged five (41.67%). These crop species were mostly grasses, Poaceae (paddy, wheat) and cucurbits, Cucurbitaceae (pumpkin, cucumber) while fruit trees numbered seven species (58.33%). When these fruits were not available in the fields, langurs entered into human residences and stole household foods such as bananas, biscuits, salt, bread, and nuts. Presently, the Forest Department of Bangladesh has implemented a program to ensure their daily food intake is adequate, and have declared areas for their protection and conservation. This study was conducted from March to September 2020 by the first author.

Keywords: Langur, Conflict, Rruiting season, Keshabpur, Jashore, Bangladesh.

Location: Jashore district, Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Animal Health and Management

Commodity: Wild Animal

Objectives:

The objectives of this study were to determine the total number of common langurs and their impact on crops and fruit trees and to finally formulate a solution to these conflicts.

Methodology:

Group size of the langur species: There are some groups of these monkeys in Jashore district but most of the animals frequent the municipality (urban) area because they are able to obtain more food from the visitors there. About 70-80 individuals were present during the study period. New-born babies and juveniles numbered 10 in total. This area was always packed full of people; they provided them bananas, nuts, and additionally bread. Monkey-human relationships were friendly. Shelters of the langurs: Banyan Trees and Sacred Fig Trees were the langurs main shelter. They rested within the branches and foliage during at night. In the day time, they moved down from the trees to public areas for food. On the roofs of the houses, walls of the buildings, and on plain land they moved freely. In Keshabpur Upazila of Jashore there are some old large trees, which protected them from enemies. Manirampur acts as another solace for breeding. Controlling methods and data collection: 11.1% of farmers used miscellaneous control methods such as wrapping fruits particularly for banana, guava, jackfruit, and papaya in thick socks, netting whole trees (especially for mango and litchi), hanging scarecrows, using dogs, spraying insecticides (particularly for mango) and fencing gardens with sharp barbed iron wire (Khatun, Ahsan & Rosksaft, 2013). In Assam, more than 69% of the population were interviewed, and 22% of them suggested that sterilization of male monkeys and some methods of birth control such as immune contraception should be applied for reducing conflicts (Devi & Saikia, 2008). Using the questionnaire method to gather rapid data, played an effective role for this study.

Source of Information: Calodema, 842: 1-7 (2020)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1.

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

For behavioural adaptability, intelligence, and general diets, primates might enable them to exploit successfully in any agricultural crop lands. In Jashore, Bangladesh, langurs are present in some groups but most of the individuals frequent the municipality area of Keshabpur. Villagers are inclined to conflict with them but usually, they feed, love, and care for the langurs. The disturbances caused by langurs are not significant to the inhabitants of this area. By providing regular food by the personnel of the Forest Department of Bangladesh, now langurs are not considered a serious mammalian pest to the people. In addition, visitors and other local people regularly provide food for them. Only during the fruiting season (viz. March-July) are some common methods for controlling them required. When food availability in the fields is severely reduced, langurs sometimes snatch household food but the villagers usually do not take it seriously. Massive fruit trees should not be cut down within their habitats. Some restricted areas of under governmental control may be identified and planted with numerous fruit trees for the survival of these long-tailed monkeys in order to reduce such conflicts.

Knowledge Management: Journal