Conserving the Endangered Kashmir Grey Langur in the Western Himalayas, Pakistan

Abid Ali

Other project team members: Muhammad Noman Khan, Muhammad Shehzad and Komal Gul

Until very recently, no detailed scientific data existed on the Endangered Kashmir grey langur (Semnopithecus ajax) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. Our surveys provided the first photographic evidence and recorded a previously unknown population, revealing highly fragmented forests and potential ecological corridors. It remains unclear whether these corridors effectively connect populations across this rapidly changing landscape. This project will validate corridors, map langur occupancy, and assess habitat use using non-invasive surveys and camera traps. Parallel community workshops will engage residents near priority forest patches, fostering conservation awareness, reducing human–langur conflict, and building long-term stewardship. Expected outcomes include validated habitat and corridor maps, trained local monitors, and actionable recommendations for provincial authorities. By linking rigorous scientific research with hands-on community involvement, this project will turn preliminary findings into real-world protection for this overlooked primate, securing both its habitats and landscape connectivity, while empowering local communities as active guardians of biodiversity.

Watch the project video: