1Principal Investigator, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad, Kerala, India
2Mentor, WOS-A, DST Project, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad, Kerala, India
3Department of Livestock Production and Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad, Kerala, India
4Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Wayanad, Kerala, India
*Correspondence: ssenthil2043@gmail.com
Online published on 9 September, 2022.
Lion-tailed Macaque is listed as an Endangered (IUCN, 2020) species and endemic in the rain forests of the Western Ghats and found mainly in silent valley national park located in southern part of Western Ghats in the border of Mannarkkad Taluk of Palakkad district, Nilambur Taluk of Malappuram district, Kerala and Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu. During field survey, it was found that Lion-tailed Macaques preferably eat flowers and seeds of Cullinea exarillata (Wild durian), flowers of Litsea flo-ribunda (Pattuthali), fruits of Ficus rescimosa (Cluster Fig) and Ficus exasperate (Sand paper), ripened and un-ripened fruits of Artocarpus heterophyllus (Jack fruit), Artocarpus hirsutus (Wild Jackfruit), Mangifera indica (Mango) and Psidium guajava (Guava). The items consumed by Lion-tailed Macaque was analysed for its chemical composition and found that highest per cent of fibre (42.01%), crude protein (21.79%), crude fat (5.09%), calcium (6.09%) and phosphorus (8.66%) were found in Ficus microcarpa, Artocarpus hirsutus, Ficus beddomei,Ficus exasperata respectively.
Flowers, Ficus species, Calcium, Lion Tailed Macaque, Proximate composition, Phosphorus, Wild fruits
