Observations on the Distribution of Rhesus macaques <i>(Macaca mulatta)</i> in Chandrabani, Dehradun

Sayli Suresh Sawant; Sambandam Sathyakumar; Qamar Qureshi

doi:10.36808/if/2026/v152i6/171313

Observations on the Distribution of Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in Chandrabani, Dehradun

Authors

Sayli Suresh Sawant Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun
Sambandam Sathyakumar Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun
Qamar Qureshi Wildlife Institute of India, Chandrabani, Dehradun

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2026/v152i6/171313

Keywords:

Macaca mulatta, Habitat utilisation, Troop composition, Seasonal habitat use, Encounter rate, Line-transect.

Abstract

Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) is one of the most adaptable primate species in South Asia and is widely distributed across natural and human-modified areas. Understanding patterns of occurrence and habitat association in rapidly changing environments is important for wildlife management and mitigation of human–macaque interactions. The present study documents the distribution and habitat association of rhesus macaques in the Chandrabani area of Dehradun, Uttarakhand. Line transect surveys were conducted between February 2017 and October 2019 within a 16 km² heterogeneous area surrounding the Wildlife Institute of India campus comprising forest patches, agricultural fields, roadsides and human settlements. Surveys were carried out across four sampling periods and macaque encounters were recorded along designated transects. Rhesus macaques were detected throughout the study area and occurred in both forest and non-forest habitats during all survey periods. Habitat-wise analysis revealed considerable use of non-forest habitats, with non-forest detections accounting for 72.7%, 34.1%, 76.6% and 57.1% of observed individuals during February 2017, November 2017, May 2019 and October 2019 surveys, respectively. Forest habitats accounted for a greater proportion of detections only during the November 2017 survey. The results indicate substantial use of agricultural land, settlement edges and other human-modified habitats by rhesus macaques within the Chandrabani area.

The widespread occurrence of rhesus macaques across both natural and anthropogenic habitats demonstrates the ecological flexibility of the species and highlights the importance of human-modified areas in supporting local populations. These findings provide baseline information on macaque distribution in the Himalayan foothill region and contribute to understanding patterns of habitat use relevant to human–macaque interactions and future management interventions.

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