Species File: Exploring India’s biodiversity, one species at a time.
Lion-tailed macaques are moving out of forests. A recent study in the Western Ghats has recorded as many as 800 individuals in human landscapes, where they face risks like road accidents and electrocution.
The lion-tailed macaque (Macaca silenus) is a tree-dwelling monkey, endemic to the rainforests of the Western Ghats. These macaques are recognised for their distinctive silver-white mane, black face and tufted tail similar to that of a lion. Since they primarily eat fruits, they move through the canopy of connected trees in forests, rarely descending to the ground. They also supplement their diet with insects for protein.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Species, the lion-tailed macaque is endangered. The loss of rainforests has led to a decline in its population with only about 2,400-2,500 mature individuals remaining. In India, the species is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, giving it the highest level of legal protection.
The Anamalai Hills in the Central Western Ghats in Tamil Nadu, is home to some of the largest populations of lion-tailed macaques. However, these rainforests have been broken up into smaller fragments by tea plantations, human habitation, roads and electric lines, increasing threats to this species.
In recent years, researchers have found vanishing forests are driving lion-tailed macaques to search for food in people’s homes, highlighting the need for large-scale restoration of their rainforest habitat, expansion of sanctuaries and protection of rainforest corridors in the Western Ghats.
In an interview published by Mongabay-India in 2025, ecologist and animal behaviour expert Mewa Singh, said, “Urban monkeys often have access to processed, high-calorie human foods, leading to obesity, skin problems, and higher parasite loads compared to forest monkeys. Their gut biome changes with these foods. A study in Tamil Nadu showed that parasites from released urban monkeys spread to wild forest monkeys.”
Read more about how lion-tailed macaques are navigating shrinking forests and strategies being used to restore habitats.
Banner image: A lion-tailed macaque in Delhi Zoo. Image by Zakaul Haque via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).
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