Recent biological expeditions, supported by the Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation, in the biodiversity hotspot of Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Himalaya, have resulted in the discovery of the Arunachal macaque Macaca munzala, a primate new to science.

Preliminary information suggests that this species may be restricted to the high altitudes, and its continued existence may be threatened due to hunting and conflicts with people over crop depredation. This project, the first study on the demography and behavioural ecology of this hitherto-unknown species, also seeks to understand its interactions with humans and initiate awareness programs aimed at safeguarding the future of this fascinating primate

More specifically, the goals of this project include:

(1) Collection of basic data on the habitat use, feeding ecology and demography of different populations in Tawang and West Kameng districts of Arunachal Pradesh.

(2) Identification of populations and troops for the subsequent establishment of a long-term field study on the species.

(3) Identification of the potential survival threats to the macaque and evaluation of conservation measures required.

(4) Initiation of awareness programs at the local and state level to garner support of the indigenous community for the protection of the Arunachal macaque.

This project is expected to generate scientific knowledge (of the ecology of the Arunachal macaque and the social issues that threaten its survival) that is critical to the long-term conservation management of this virtually unknown primate. We hope that this study will mark the beginning of an integrated management program for the Arunachal macaque in association with the State Forest Department and the local communities. It is significant that the Forest Department has itself expressed a strong need for information on the new species and sought assistance in developing strategies for its conservation in the high-altitude areas of the state.

The proposed program should therefore also be able to extend itself, in the future, to encompass the other unique high-altitude wildlife of Arunachal Pradesh, which is in urgent need of exploration and conservation.