ONE of the rarest of the species, the golden langur is facing extinction. Increasing encroachment on their habitat and smuggling have led to a sharp decline in the number of these dazzling creatures. The langur, found in the forests of Assam, stands out for its golden coat, black face and a very long tail ending in a tassle.

Environmentalists have expressed concern about their safety in the Chakrashila wildlife sanctuary. Activists belonging to Nature's Beckon claim that they had taken several measures with the help of locals to protect the langurs. But the government had yet to respond to the crisis. The primates have perished in large numbers due to largescale deforestation in Assam and other north-eastern states.