Himalayan Langur Project
Field Sites
The Himalayan Langur Project is based in Mandal Valley in the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand, India. Our long-term research follows multiple groups of Himalayan langurs (Semnopithecus schistaceus) across distinct forest types and human-dominated landscapes. Together, these sites form a comparative system spanning protected forests, agroforestry mosaics, high-altitude pastures, and urban environments, allowing us to examine how ecological variation and human presence shape behavior, adaptation, and coexistence.
Mandal Valley serves as the base for long-term research and community engagement. This mid-elevation agro-forest landscape represents a mosaic of villages, agricultural fields, and fragmented forests, where langurs regularly interact with people.
Established in 2021, this troop inhabits relatively undisturbed forest within Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary (2450–3000 m). The site provides insight into langur behavior in less human-modified habitats, offering a critical comparison to more disturbed landscapes.
This mid-elevation site (2000–2500 m) is characterized by dense forest with high canopy cover and limited human disturbance. It represents a structurally complex habitat, allowing us to examine langur behavior in continuous forest conditions and compare it with more fragmented and human-influenced landscapes.
This high-elevation site spans alpine pastures and subalpine forests, shaped by seasonal pastoralism and sacred geography. It represents a dynamic landscape where wildlife, livestock, and human movement intersect across steep environmental gradients.
Located in the nearby town of Gopeshwar, this site represents an urban environment where langurs share space directly with people. Here, langurs navigate built infrastructure, human activity, and highly modified habitats, providing key insights into behavior and adaptation in densely populated settings.
