The golden langur is an endangered species endemic to Western Assam and Bhutan. According to a population estimate released last year, there are 7,396 golden langurs in India, of which officials say 500-600 are in the Kakoijana Reserve Forest. And the residents of 34 foothill villages surrounding the reserve forest have been actively working for the protection of the species. The latest worry, they say, is the new four-lane highway.

“There had always been a risk of accidents because over the years, trees bearing food for golden langurs, like bamboo and those bearing fruit, have disappeared from the reserve forest. It now only has teak trees, which have nothing for them to eat. So they come to the villages surrounding the forest for food, and there is a chance of them getting run over while crossing the road to go back to the forest,” said Boleram Rabha, a resident of Hatichara village.

While they would earlier cross a single lane-corridor, the highway connecting Rakhaldubi and Tunulgia, which was completed in 2024, has affected this route. “Earlier, there were large trees on both sides of the road and the langur could cross by jumping from a tree on one side to another on the other side. But now, since the highway is very broad and these trees have been felled, they have to walk or run across this road to return to the forest. What we are demanding are hanging bridges over parts of the highway,” said Hororam Rabha, a resident of Bhati Rabha Para village.

He said local residents have developed their own systems to try and prevent such accidents but these fall short. “If someone sees that a golden langur is trying to cross the road, they call others and inform. Whoever is near and free rushes there. People go on both sides of the road and make cars stop until they cross to the other side. But it’s not possible to be alert all the time,” Rabha said.

“When Saturday’s incident happened, people came rushing to the road. There, we made a decision that just expressing our sorrow like always won’t work and we have to do something to force a response from the government. We want the golden langur to be given as much importance in Assam as the one-horned rhino,” he said.

Among those who reached the site after locals blockaded the highway were the Bongaigaon DC, the SP, and officials from the Forest department and the National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL).

Bongaigaon DC Nabadeep Pathak said the administration will work on a proposal for hanging bridges. “The locals have told us about high-risk spots where golden langurs cross the highway and we have requested barricades to slow the movement of traffic there as a short-term measure. This should be done in the next couple of days. The ropeway-type loop bridge will take time,” Pathak said.

“The locals also raised concerns about electrocution of langurs, and they have a long-standing demand for plastic coating of electrical wires. The APDCL (Assam Power Distribution Company Limited) has already done this in about 50% of the villages over the years and this work will continue. In the meantime, I have also requested green fencing around about 50 small and big transformers in the area,” he said.