This project, comprising of three major components, tried to unravel the status of two closely related primate species which exhibit parapatry - or overlap in ranges. The study was concerned with the push and pull of natural and anthropogenic factors which facilitated range overlap and potential hybridisation of the two species.

The larger question, which remains only partially answered, is whether the species hybridise and whether these hybrids are viable? Further, what factors could influence the continued co-occurrence of the two langurs and whether these would lead to hybridisation or keep them genetically isolated? The first component of the project determined the vegetation composition of the habitats in which the two species tended to occur independently or together. It was found that areas where the Nilgiri Langur and Hanuman Langur were allopatric, i.e. areas where only one of the langur species was found, differed considerably while areas of co-occurance was more similar to that of the Nilgiri Langur than the Hanuman Langur.