Dhubri: An endangered golden langur was found electrocuted in Kushiakata village under the Kakoijana Reserve Forest in Assam’s Bongaigaon district on Friday morning, renewing concerns over threats posed by overhead power lines.Wildlife enthusiast Kartik Ray, a resident of Chitkagaon near the reserve forest, expressed deep concern, alleging that repeated appeals to the authorities, particularly the electricity department, to take preventive measures went unheeded.Kakoijana Reserve Forest, an important golden langur habitat in Assam, has recorded several electrocution deaths over the years, Ray said.Conservationists have sought the insulation of overhead power lines, pruning of trees near electricity cables and coordinated action by the forest and power departments.Senior officials of the forest department, the electricity department, and the district commissioner visited the site to assess the situation and interact with local residents.Divisional forest officer of Aie Valley Division of Bongaigaon Khanindra Kalita told TOI several measures were taken by the forest department to protect golden langurs in the area.“Bongaigaon district administration constructed six barbed wire canopies across NH 117 from Rakhaldubi to Tulungia to facilitate the primate to cross through these canopies from Kakoijana to Bamungaon Reserve Forest,” Kalita added.Forest personnel have also been deployed along the highway to monitor the movement of golden langurs. Traffic is stopped whenever an animal is spotted crossing the road, he added.Kalita said the forest department sanctioned funds under its standard operating procedure for the primates’ protection. The department also approached senior Assam Power Distribution Company Limited officials to secure electricity poles and exposed wires inside the reserve forest.
