The Status of Nepal's Mammals: The National Red List Series - IUCN

113
VULNERABLE
72) Macaca assamensis (Hodgson, 1840)
Molur et al. (2003) consider the species in Nepal
different from the two currently recognized
subspecies M. a. pelops and M. a. assamensis which
occur in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Lao PDR,
Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, based on
head-body length, tail length, weight and body
colouration. This may be a new subspecies but
further taxonomic clarification is required. It may be
the western Assamese macaque subspecies M. a.
pelops, however this is still under debate.
Common Names
Assam Macaque (English); Pahare Bandar (Nepali)
Synonyms
Macaca macclellandii (Gray, 1846); Macaca sikimensis
(Hodgson, 1867); Macaca problematicus
(Gray, 1870); Macaca rhesosimilis (Sclater, 1872);
Macaca coolidgei (Osgood, 1932)
Species Description
Brown-grey coat, purple snout, hairless face.
Species Ecology
The Assam Macaque occurs in subtropical hill
Sal forests, mixed deciduous forests, temperate
broadleaved forests with rocky outcrops and along
riverside steep forests of higher elevation. The
dominant tree species in the Assam Macaque’s
current occupied habitats include Schima (Schima
wallichii), Indian Olive (Elaeocarpus robusta), Wallich
(Lyonia ovalifolia), Wild Pear (Pyrus pasia), Nepalese
Alder (Alnus nepalensis) and Rhododendron spp.,
which they use for shelter and food.
Age at first reproduction for the species is five years
with a gestation period of approximately 164 days.
Inter-birth interval ranges from approximately 14 to
23 months. Generation length is 10 to 12 years.
Conservation Status
Global: Near Threatened
National: Vulnerable D1
Rationale for assessment: The Assam Macaque
(Macaca assamensis) has been nationally assessed
as Vulnerable under criterion D1 due to a small
population of mature individuals suspected to
number less than 1000 based on previous research
of the population and distribution. The population
is considered to exist in a fragmented distribution
with an extent of occurrence of approximately 14,
894 km 2 .
Legal Status
CITES Appendix II
Listed in the National Parks and Wildlife
Conservation Act 2029 (1973) as protected priority
species. This species occurs within protected areas.
National Population Size
The Assam Macaque is not considered a common
species and estimates range from around 300 to 750
individuals with less than 300 mature individuals
distributed across eight subpopulations
(no subpopulation having more than 50 mature
individuals).