ABSTRACT
The Kashmir grey langur (Semnopithecus ajax), distributed in some parts of Pakistan, Nepal, and India, is listed as endangered. Its distribution limits are still uncertain and need to be resolved to strategise conservation and management measures. We studied the distribution of this endangered species in the Kashmir Valley (ca. 10000 km2) from April 2016 to July 2016. Surveys were conducted in many protected and non-protected forested areas. Data was collected for the distribution and attitudes of local people toward Kashmir grey langur conservation. Results indicate that Kashmir grey langur is distributed in all the protected areas of the Kashmir Valley and some non-protected forest areas. The encounter rates of langurs varied from a minimum of 0.21 ± 0.15 individuals/km to a maximum of 5.67 ± 2.42 individuals/km across the areas surveyed. About 88% of the interviewed respondents (n = 68) had a positive attitude towards langur conservation. Based on these considerations, we propose the present IUCN distribution range of Semnopithecus ajax to be extended to the Kashmir Valley.
