Rescued from wildlife traffickers, seven golden langurs released in Assam national park

Eight golden langurs — one of the world's most range-restricted primates — were rescued during a late-night anti-trafficking operation by the Special Task Fo...

What Happened

Eight golden langurs — one of the world's most range-restricted primates — were rescued during a late-night anti-trafficking operation by the Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police at Sidli, along National Highway-27 in Chirang district, following specific intelligence inputs.
Nine suspected wildlife traffickers were apprehended, including one Bangladeshi national, establishing this as an inter-border smuggling operation.
One of the eight rescued animals did not survive despite veterinary intervention and rehabilitation; the remaining seven were released into Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park, which forms part of the Manas Biosphere Reserve complex in western Assam.
The species is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 — the highest domestic protection category — and is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
The golden langur has one of the most restricted primate ranges globally: confined to a narrow geographic corridor between western Assam (south) and the foothills of Bhutan (north), bounded by the Sankosh River (west) and the Manas River (east).

Static Topic Bridges

Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 — Schedule I and Anti-Trafficking Provisions

The Wildlife (Protection) Act (WPA), 1972 is the principal legislation governing protection of wildlife in India. It creates a tiered protection system through six Schedules, with Schedule I species receiving absolute protection: hunting, poaching, trapping, or trade in Schedule I species attracts the most severe penalties under the Act. The 2022 Amendment to WPA reorganised the Schedules from six to four.

Schedule I (pre-2022 / Schedules I & II after 2022): absolute protection; maximum penalty for violation — imprisonment up to 7 years and fine ₹10,000 or more.
The WPA also regulates trade through Chapter V-A: CITES-listed species trade requires certification.
Section 50: Forest Officers, Wildlife Wardens, and Police Officers have power to search, seize, and arrest without warrant for Schedule I species offences.
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) under MoEFCC is the nodal agency for intelligence, coordination, and enforcement against wildlife trafficking nationally.
The golden langur is on Schedule I of the WPA and Appendix I of CITES — meaning international commercial trade is prohibited.

Connection to this news: The nine arrests and asset seizure follow exactly the provisions under the WPA that criminalise possession, transport, and trade of Schedule I species.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species is the world's most comprehensive inventory of biodiversity conservation status. Species are assessed against quantitative criteria for population decline, geographic range, and extinction probability, and assigned to one of nine categories.

IUCN Red List categories (most to least threatened): EX (Extinct) → EW (Extinct in the Wild) → CR (Critically Endangered) → EN (Endangered) → VU (Vulnerable) → NT (Near Threatened) → LC (Least Concern) → DD (Data Deficient) → NE (Not Evaluated).
Golden langur (Trachypithecus geei): classified as Endangered (EN) — first listed in 1976.
EN criteria: population has declined by >50% over 10 years or three generations, or geographic range is severely restricted with continuing decline.
Indian population: estimated fewer than 1,500 individuals; Bhutan population ~4,000 — total global population under 6,000.

Connection to this news: The Endangered classification explains why even the rescue and rehabilitation of seven individuals is a conservation-significant event.

Gee's Golden Langur — Ecology and Geographic Range

Trachypithecus geei (Gee's golden langur) is named after E.P. Gee, the British naturalist and wildlife photographer who brought the species to scientific attention in the 1950s. It is one of the most geographically restricted primates on Earth — its entire range spans roughly 1,400 sq km straddling western Assam and the adjacent Bhutan foothills.

Range boundaries: Sankosh River (west), Manas River (east), Bhutan foothills (north), Brahmaputra River (south).
Habitat: tropical and subtropical forests; the species is an arboreal leaf-eater (folivore) — dependent on continuous forest canopy.
Threats: habitat fragmentation (road expansion, agriculture encroachment), hunting for traditional medicine and the pet trade, and forest fires in the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) region.
India's key habitats: Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary, Manas National Park/Biosphere Reserve, and the Ripu Reserve Forest — all in western Assam.

Connection to this news: Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park, where the seven langurs were released, lies within the Manas Biosphere Reserve — one of the critical habitat patches for this species.

Manas National Park and Biosphere Reserve

Manas is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Tiger Reserve (Project Tiger), an Elephant Reserve, and a Biosphere Reserve — one of the few sites in India with all four designations. It lies in western Assam's Bodoland Territorial Council area, bordering Bhutan's Royal Manas National Park, together forming a transboundary protected area.

UNESCO World Heritage status: 1985; delisted in 1992 due to conflict; relisted in 2011 after recovery.
Located in: Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) area — administered under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution (special tribal governance provisions for NE India).
Biodiversity: home to Bengal tiger, Indian rhinoceros, pygmy hog (world's smallest pig), hispid hare, and Assamese macaque, in addition to the golden langur.
Transboundary significance: Royal Manas National Park (Bhutan) adjoins — making the Assam-Bhutan corridor critical for golden langur genetic connectivity.

Connection to this news: The release site (Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park, part of Manas Biosphere Reserve) represents the scientifically optimal habitat for the rescued animals, with existing golden langur populations and transboundary forest connectivity.

Key Facts & Data

Species: Gee's golden langur (Trachypithecus geei)
IUCN Status: Endangered (EN); first listed 1976
WPA Schedule: Schedule I (highest domestic protection)
CITES Appendix: Appendix I (international commercial trade prohibited)
Indian range: restricted to ~1,400 sq km in western Assam (Sankosh–Manas corridor)
Indian population: fewer than 1,500 individuals
Bhutan population: ~4,000 individuals
Trafficking bust: Chirang district, Sidli area, NH-27, Assam; late-night STF operation
Arrests: 9 suspected traffickers (including 1 Bangladeshi national)
Rescued: 8 langurs; 7 released (1 did not survive rehabilitation)
Release site: Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park (part of Manas Biosphere Reserve), western Assam
Manas designations: UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tiger Reserve, Elephant Reserve, Biosphere Reserve
Bodoland Territorial Council: governed under Sixth Schedule of the Constitution
Named after: E.P. Gee, British naturalist who identified the species in the 1950s