In an effort to reduce wildlife casualties and protect the endangered Golden Langur, the BTC Forest Department and the Primate Research Centre Northeast India (PRC NE India) have installed two artificial canopy bridges along the Bismuri–Saralpara Road that passes through Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park in western Assam. The initiative comes amid growing concerns over the impact of an ongoing road widening project on the habitat of the rare primate species. Conservationists have warned that the expansion of the roadway has disrupted natural tree canopies, forcing Golden Langurs to descend to the ground while moving between forest patches and increasing the risk of road accidents.
According to experts, two Golden Langurs were killed in separate incidents within a span of seven days in May this year while attempting to cross the road. The deaths raised alarm among wildlife researchers and forest officials, prompting urgent measures to improve safe passage for the animals. To address the issue, a Ladder Bridge and a Pipe Bridge have been installed near Ride Number Seven inside the national park. The Pipe Bridge has also been fitted with a vertically mounted rope to provide additional support and ease movement for tree-dwelling animals crossing between fragmented sections of the forest. The Bismuri–Saralpara Road cuts through the core area of the 316.29-square-kilometre Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park, which extends across Kokrajhar and Chirang districts. The park is home to the second-largest population of Golden Langurs, a species found only in a limited region of Assam and neighbouring Bhutan. The animal is also the official mascot of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC).
Wildlife experts have cautioned that once the road widening project is completed and the route is fully paved, traffic movement and vehicle speeds are expected to increase significantly. This could pose an even greater threat to Golden Langurs and other wildlife inhabiting the area. PRC NE India has urged authorities to introduce additional mitigation measures before the project is completed. The organisation has stressed the need for safeguards not only for Golden Langurs but also for other vulnerable species such as butterflies, amphibians and reptiles that inhabit the ecologically sensitive landscape.