| Range: |
Southeastern India |
| Habitat: |
Evergreen forests |
| Conservation Status: |
Endangered |
| Scientific Name: |
Macaca silenus |
These macaques (pronounced mah-kaks') live in the forests of the Western Ghats, a mountain range in southeastern India. They spend most of their lives in the treetops. One male usually leads a group of breeding females for a few years until another male succeeds in taking over. Bachelor males live outside the breeding group's range, awaiting their chance to replace the troop leader.
The lion-tailed macaque is in danger of extinction. There are fewer than 4,000 of these animals left in the wild. The reasons for their decline include forest clearance for crops, fuel wood, and development projects, as well as hunting.
|
