Assam: Another Golden Langur electrocuted to death by an open electric wire in Bongaigaon

A golden langur was killed today after being electrocuted by an open electric wire in Kuziapara, Bakhlagava, Bongaigaon district. This marks the fourth such incident this month, with three other golden langurs also falling victim to electrocution from exposed electric cables in the region.

Locals believe the group of langurs had ventured into the areaa from the nearby Kakaijana Reserve Forest in search of food. The tragic event has raised concerns over the safety of wildlife in the region, as the endangered species continues to face the threat of electrocution from poorly maintained electric wires.

It needs mention here that a series of incidents in December 2024 has highlighted the perilous situation faced by Assam’s endangered golden langurs, with three of these rare primates dead due to electrocution within a single week. The incidents occurred in Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar districts, where uninsulated power lines pose a growing threat to wildlife.  

The first incident took place on December 7 in Nayekgaon, Kokrajhar, where an infant golden langur was electrocuted while moving through tree branches. Witnesses reported that the injured infant fell to the ground, only to be retrieved by its distressed mother. Despite her efforts, the infant succumbed to its injuries. The carcass was later discovered on December 10 by Dr. Joydeep Shil, a primatologist from the Primate Research Centre North East India.  

In a subsequent incident on December 8, another golden langur died of electrocution in the Soulmari area of Bongaigaon. Just two days later, on December 10, a female golden langur met a similar fate near the Sidalsati market in the Thakurani Khorapara area of the same district. This latter incident left behind an orphaned infant, intensifying concerns for the vulnerable species’ survival.