Assam: Golden langur electrocuted to death near Bongaigaon's Kakoijana Reserve Forest

An endangered golden langur was killed by electrocution on August 7 in Katuripara village near Kakoijana Reserve Forest, reigniting concerns over the safety of the endangered species in the region.

Residents said the langur came in contact with an exposed electric wire, a common hazard in the villages surrounding the forest. Despite repeated incidents, they allege that district authorities and the electricity department have failed to secure live wires and open transformers.

Forest and electricity department officials visited the site after the death but offered little beyond condolences, according to locals. Villagers, from children to the elderly, gathered to pay their last respects to the dead langur.

The golden langur, found mainly in western Assam and Bhutan, is classified as an endangered species. Kakoijana Reserve Forest is considered one of its key habitats, yet electrocution and habitat encroachment continue to threaten its survival.

Locals have demanded immediate safety measures to prevent further deaths, including insulating exposed wires and safeguarding transformers near the forest villages.