TWENTY-YEAR CHANGES IN RHESUS MONKEY POPULATIONS IN AGRICULTURAL AREAS OF NORTHERN INDIA'

Over a 20-yr period, 1959-60 to 1979-80, rhesus monkey populations in agricultural areas of northern India declined substantially. Roadside populations decreased 77%, from 5.7 rhesus groups to 1.3 groups/100 km. Canal bank populations declined 76% from 11.5 to 2.8 groups/100 km. Village populations of rhesus declined 89%, and a new sample of 245 additional villages in 1979-80 revealed no rhesus monkeys in or near these villages. Rhesus groups in towns showed the least decline: 24% over the past 20 yr. A few localities in India continue to have abundant rhesus. Banda District in southern Uttar Pradesh had one village with more than twice as many rhesus in 1979-80 as in 1959-60 (I1 rhesus groups with 267 monkeys in 1980 compared to only 5 groups with 109 monkeys in 1960), but all of these groups were associated with Hindu temples or a sacred hill. In other sites of religious significance for Hindus, including temple areas around Ajodhya in central U.P., rhesus have declined over 90%. Although a few localities and special sites in India still have good populations of rhesus monkeys, they are no longer a common or widespread feature of agricultural India.