Tufted Gray Langur
Semnopithecus priam
Also known as: Coromandel Sacred Langur, Coromandel Crested Langur, Coromandel Gray Langur, Madras Grey Langur, Southern Gray Langur
About This Species
Found in dry deciduous and scrub forests of southeastern India and Sri Lanka, these langurs live in mixed troops and spend time both in the forest canopy and on the ground, often foraging near forest edges and around temple complexes where they have grown accustomed to human presence. Watch for the distinctive pale gray body, blackish face, and the upswept tuft of fur on the crown, and listen for the loud, whooping alarm calls that troops give when disturbed by predators or rival groups. Early morning hours offer the best viewing as troops move actively between sleeping trees and feeding areas, and the dry season months when leaf cover thins make spotting individuals in the canopy considerably easier.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Maintain a minimum distance of 10–15 metres and use binoculars or a telephoto lens to observe natural behaviours without causing stress or altering group dynamics.
- In India, this species is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972), while in Sri Lanka it falls under the Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance, making deliberate disturbance, feeding, or harassment illegal in both countries.
- Keep noise to a minimum, avoid direct eye contact which can be perceived as a threat, do not linger if individuals show signs of agitation such as alarm calls or rapid movement, and never offer food as this disrupts natural foraging behaviour and can increase human–wildlife conflict.
Seasonal Activity
1,845 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Primates
- Family
- Cercopithecidae
Photo
Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons
CC-BY-SA-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.