Primates of Bangladesh

Photo: Ihtisham Kabir

“Primate” is a grouping of a wide range of       mammals from gorillas weighing 150 kg to mouse lemurs weighing 50 grams; humans are also included. Primates are our closest relatives in the animal world. Their common features include the presence of nails or claws as opposed to hooves or paws and the capability for prehension, that is, grasping using fingers. There are   several hundred species of primates in the world, the final number depending on the criteria used to differentiate them.
I asked Dr. M.M. Feeroz, professor of zoology at Jahangirnagar University, about primates of Bangladesh. Of the 121 species of mammals that call Bangladesh home, ten are primates. These are: Hoolock Gibbon, Slow Loris, Rhesus Macaque, Assam Macaque, Long-tailed Macaque, Northern Pig-Tailed Macaque, Phayre's Langur, Capped Leaf Monkey, Common Langur and Stump-tailed Macaque.
For me, the most intriguing is the Hoolock Gibbon. Ulluks, as they are locally known, can be found only in Bangladesh, northeastern India and western Myanmar. The evergreen  forests of Sylhet and Chittagong   provide a home to them. They eat off the trees and live in groups in the upper branches and their dependence on these forests is total. Perhaps the best place to observe them is Lawacherra National Park near Moulvi Bazar. A knowledgeable guide can lead you to the Ulluks there by following the distinctive call that their groups use to communicate with each other. These calls occur during certain times during the day. According to Dr. Feeroz, Ulluk population in Bangladesh is less than two hundred.
I have seen Phayre's Langur in several places, including tea and rubber plantations in Sylhet. This species is known in Bangla as Choshma Bandor because the white band around their eyes contrasts with their black fur and looks like spectacles. They are certainly more populous than the Ulluks. While Choshma Bandors live in trees, they don't require the dense forest and high canopies like the Gibbons. They eat leaves and fruits, but they can also do serious damage to vegetable crops or budding bamboo shoots. They feel threatened if you try to get close and will become agitated. I was surprised to learn that this monkey, quite    common in our forests, is rare in India.
Compared to other primates, I found Capped Leaf Monkeys to be friendly and approachable. Their black face contrasting with orange fur has led to the Bangla name Mukhpora Honuman. I was able to watch them at the entrance of Shatchori National Park. Later, I found another group in Rema-Kalenga Wildlife Sanctuary. They will allow you to get close without running away or becoming agitated.
Perhaps the most common primate in Bangladesh is Rhesus Macaque, known simply as Bandor. They can be seen in many cities including Dhaka. In Sundarban, these monkeys form a symbiotic relationship with deer to guard against their common enemy, the tiger.
The primate I yearn to see is Slow Loris, which, though present in our protected forests, is unfortunately very shy and nocturnal.
Despite our overpopulation and consequential deforestation, these primates have managed to survive in our wilderness. Continued vigilance in saving our forests is necessary for their continued presence in Bangladesh.

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