White-Cheeked Macaque.

Why in news?

• Scientists have recorded presence of White-Cheeked Macaque (Macaca leucogenys)from central Arunachal Pradesh in India. The significance of the discovery is that it marks a new addition to mammals of India.
• The species was discovered in 2015 by a group of Chinese scientists from the Modog region in southeastern Tibet and this discovery was considered a significant breakthrough as far as primates are concerned.
• White- Cheeked Macaques are distinct from other macaques found in the region by displaying white cheeks, long and thick hairs on the neck area, and a longer tail.
• White Cheeked Macaque has not been yet included in the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 of India.
• Along with White-Cheeked Macaques and Arunachal Macaque the other species of Macaques are Assamese Macaque(Macaca assamensis) and Rhesus Macaque (Macaca mulatta) reported from the same landscape.The number of mammals reported from India stands at 434.
• The potential threat to all species of macaques in the landscape are due to hunting by locals for consumption and habitat degradation due to urbanisation and infrastructure development.