Arunachal Pradesh: Scientist Discover White Cheeked Macaque in West Siang

ITANAGAR: In a new discovery, Indian scientist has found the presence of White-Cheeked Macaque known scientifically as Macaca Leucogenys in the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh.

This recent discovery in Arunachal Pradesh marked the new addition of mammals in the country. The presence of the new mammal from Arunachal Pradesh is confirmed after the DNA test.

A group of nine scientists from ZSI (Zoological Survey of India) headed by Dr. Mukesh Thakur experienced the presence of White-Cheeked Macaque at the time when they were collecting a few faecal samples in Arunachal Pradesh.

The scientists were looking for Arunachal Macaques and red pandas in the West Siang which is around a 197-kilometer distance from China.

However, they succeeded in collecting numerous pieces of evidence and laid transects. They also deployed some camera traps in the region.

This species of Macaque is unique and they are distinct from other Macaque. White-Cheeked Macaque has long and thick hair in their neck part and has white coloured chicks and consists of a longer tail.

A team of Chinese scientists earlier in the year 2015 discovers the species in southeastern Tibet from the area of Modog. The discovery at that time was considered to be a major breakthrough as far as primates are concerned.

The 9 scientists from the Zoological Survey of India in the paper stated that the White-Cheeked Macaque is not yet added in the Wildlife Act 1972 of India and so the current research laid the foundation in promoting field studies in Central Arunachal Pradesh to portray distribution boundary and population size of the new mammal in the state.

Earlier in 2015, the photographic capture of the species from the Anjaw district of Arunachal Pradesh had created a lot of controversy among the primatologist regarding the existence of the species.

The scientists behind the new discovery of the White-Cheeked Macaque are researchers under Lalit Sharma and Dr. Thakur who are the head wildlife section of the Zoological Survey of India.

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