Seven endangered golden langurs return to the wild after wildlife trafficking rescue

The seven surviving langurs -including one juvenile-were taken into the care of the Assam Forest Department and placed in a temporary enclosure in the Ultapani Range of Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park.

Veterinary and conservation teams from IFAW and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) worked alongside the Forest Department to assess the animals, provide veterinary care, and help them recover from the ordeal.

IFAW-WTI veterinarian Dr Daoharu Baro helped monitor the langurs' health and develop the protocol for their return to the wild.

Behind the scenes, teams also provided legal assistance to enforcement authorities as investigations into the trafficking network continued.

Following their release, the group, consisting of two males, four females, and one juvenile, has remained together and is surviving well. The langurs have settled in a specific area within the Ultapani Range of Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park.

Frontline forest staff from the Ultapani Range continue to monitor the animals after their return to the wild. This ongoing monitoring is an important part of the rescue and release process, helping conservation teams understand how the animals are adapting and identify any concerns that may require further action.

Golden langurs are found only in a limited region of India and Bhutan. With fewer than 14,000 individuals remaining, the endangered species already faces significant pressures from habitat fragmentation and expanding infrastructure. Poaching and wildlife trafficking add another serious threat to their survival.

Protecting individual animals therefore matters not only for their welfare, but for the future of the species.

Following their release, IFAW-WTI teams are continuing to work with the Assam Forest Department to monitor the langurs and assess how successfully they reintegrate into the wild.