Context:
The Forest department has registered a case into the mysterious deaths of nine Bonnet macaques near Palode in Thiruvananthapuram.
About Bonnet Macaques
- Scientific & Common Name: Bonnet Macaque (Macaca radiata)
Key Characteristics:
- Distinctive Feature: “Bonnet-shaped” hair whorl on the head
- IUCN Status: Least Concern (LC) due to wide distribution
Habitat & Distribution:
- Endemic to southern India
- Found in Western Ghats, southern plains, and urban fringes
- Adaptable to evergreen forests, dry deciduous forests, plantations, and villages
- Both arboreal and terrestrial, often live close to humans
