Road accidents and electrocution have accounted for nearly two-thirds of the 68 recorded deaths of the endangered Lion-tailed macaque on the Valparai Plateau over the past five years, according to a study by the Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF). Alarmingly, 79% of the deaths were juveniles and infants.
The macaque, endemic to the Western Ghats, has shown significant population growth in Valparai — from just 46 individuals in six groups in 1996 to over 800 across 37 groups in 2026. However, experts caution that rising numbers do not necessarily signal long-term security.
Highways and transformers pose major threats
A major concern is the Pollachi-Valparai highway, which cuts through rainforest stretches. Tourists feeding macaques or discarding food waste along roadsides lure the arboreal primates to the ground, exposing them to speeding vehicles.
NCF scientist M. Ananda Kumar stressed that critical road sections passing through 2,966 hectares of rainforest must be strictly monitored. He warned that dependence on human-provided food and fragmented canopy cover may boost short-term survival but heighten long-term vulnerability.
Electrocution from exposed transformers is another risk. The study recommends installing monkey-proof transformers and improving waste management to reduce animal attraction near roads.
Call for habitat restoration
Since lion-tailed macaques are tree-dwelling, canopy breaks caused by roads fragment their habitat. The study suggests creating artificial canopy bridges to restore connectivity and reduce ground movement.
Conservationists emphasise coordinated action among forest officials, local authorities, power utilities and responsible tourists. While population growth is encouraging, experts warn that without infrastructure reform and public awareness, Valparai’s fragile rainforest ecosystem may continue to put this endangered species at risk.