ABSTRACT
The first scientific observations of infanticide in any animal species in its natural habitat resulted from field studies of Hanuman langurs [Presbytis entellus) at Dharwar, south India (Sugiyama, 1965b). Curtin and Dolhinow (1978:471) have stated that the environment of langurs at Dharwar was “greatly disturbed by human activities” at the time of this author’s original and follow-up studies. Also, Boggess (Chapter 14, this volume) as well as Curtin and Dolhinow, have asserted that langur population densities of Dharwar were either absolutely or effec tively extremely high [Chapter 14, this volume, p. 308] because “the forest near Dharwar had recently been cleared and the langurs concen trated in what little remained” [Curtin and Dolhinow, 1978:471]. More generally, cases of infanticide among langurs at Dharwar and elsewhere have been dismissed as “maladaptive behaviors occurring in isolated and rare situations [Boggess, 1979:104].” In fact, especially during 19611963 when infanticide was first recorded at Dharwar, the forest had not been strongly affected by human activities. The forest had been left for natural growth and could best be described as mixed secondary growth dominated by teak trees (Tectona grandis). Although patchy cuttings of about 0.5-1.0 ha each were done every 60 years under Forest Department policy, there was little uncontrolled cutting. Predators were reduced in numbers, but there was at least one tiger and many jackals
Proximate Factors of Infanticide among Langurs
and domestic dogs in the main research area. Certainly, the local people never gave food to langurs.
