This is an Endemic species of India, found only in the Southern Western Ghats. It is distributed in Karnataka and Kerala. It is an uncommon species that can be found dwelling in canopy as well as on forest floors.


Conservation status:

This species is listed as Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (https://www.iucnredlist.org/). 


According to IUCN Red List assessment, the population of this species is declining. The current estimate of the population is 2500 mature individuals. Threat to its persistence comes from extensive agriculture, urbanization and mining all over its native range leading to heavy habitat fragmentation. Lion-tailed Macaque is also a minor crop-raider, however, retaliatory killing is not observed as such.