The continued presence of Assamese macaques Macaca assamensis (McClelland, 1840) at the lowest elevational record for Nepal
Abstract
On 17 January 2013, while returning from Barahakshetra, Sunsari District, east Nepal a famous pilgrimage site, above Chatara, we spotted a small group of macaques on a tree. These macaques were on the eastern bank of the Koshi River. Initially, we thought that these were rhesus macaques Macaca mulatta but on close examination with binoculars, these turned out to be Assamese macaques Macaca assamensis. The coordinates were noted as N26°51'49.30" E87°09'09.97" and the elevation of the area was 135 m. On 6 March 2023 three sub-adult Assamese macaques were observed by KBS at the same locality feeding along the roadside on offerings made by pilgrims.
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