Bonnet Macaque Deaths in Palode, Kerala: Species Facts
Why in the news
Nine bonnet macaques were found dead near Palode in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, and the Forest department opened a case to find out the unexplained cause.
Species profile
- Scientific name: Macaca radiata.
- Distinct trait: a hair whorl on top of the head that looks like a bonnet.
- IUCN status: Least Concern (LC), thanks to wide spread.
Habitat and distribution
- Endemic to southern India.
- Seen in the Western Ghats, southern plains and urban edges.
- Adapts to evergreen forests, dry deciduous forests, plantations and villages.
- Lives both in trees and on the ground, often near humans.
Exam angle
- Species name: Macaca radiata.
- Conservation tag: Least Concern.
- Region: Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.