New Delhi, Jan 1 (Inditop.com) If you think only wannabe models are starving themselves, you are mistaken! Even Nilgiri langurs have been diagnosed as anorexic and at least four of them have died in the country’s zoos mainly due to the eating disorder.
According to the ministry of environment and forests, the number of Nilgiri langurs has come down slightly in zoos from 28 to 24.
“There were 28 Nilgiri langurs in six Indian zoos in 2004-2005. There were two deaths each at Mysore zoo and Coimbatore zoo due to senility, pneumonia, anorexia and hepatitis,” the ministry said Friday, without divulging further details about it.
Nilgiri langurs are found in the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. Their range also include Kodagu in Karnataka, Palani Hills in Tamil Nadu and many other hilly areas in Kerala.
This primate has glossy black fur on its body and golden brown fur on its head. It lives in troops of five to 16 monkeys. The animal is often seen encroaching into agricultural land. Its diet consists of fruits, shoots and leaves. The species is endangered due to deforestation and poaching for its fur and flesh.
