This study under the support of Rufford Foundation to Laxman Khanal surveyed the population of Assamese macaques in Budhigandaki River Basin which is the construction site of the dam-based mega hydroelectricity project of the Government of Nepal. A total of 79 individuals of Assamese macaques under four troops were recorded; one troop in Dhading side (east of Budhigandaki River) and three troops in Gorkha side (west of Budhigandaki River). Two of the troops (Fujel troop-1.233 km2 and Kyamuntar troop- 2.12 km2) were predicted to lose their current habitat completely when the dam comes into operation. Mastar and Baseri troops were projected for 54.1% (0.783 km2 of 1.45 km2) and 88.9% (1.839 km2 of 2.07 km2) habitat loss, respectively. The crop-raiding pattern of Assamese macaques was found to be localised in the crop fields close to the forest and river; and unlike the rhesus macaques, they were not reported to raid the crops from the storage. Participatory Risk Mapping method shed light on higher perceived risk (17.3%) by the farmers than the actual loss (9.5%) quantified.
Photo: A troop of Assamese macaques from the bank of Budhi Gandaki River in central Nepal