Cradles in the Canopy

A Phayre's leaf monkey mother cradles her infant amid the lush canopies of Moulvibazar's Lawachhara National Park, the baby's wide eyes fixed curiously on the camera. Native to eastern Bangladesh, northeast India, and western Myanmar, this elusive primate thrives in evergreen and bamboo forests, feeding on young leaves, shoots, fruits, and seeds. The Phayre's leaf monkey is easily recognised by its white "spectacled" eye rings and infants' golden-orange fur. Shy yet social, they live almost entirely in the treetops, rarely descending to the forest floor. But deforestation, hunting, and encroachment have driven them to the brink. Listed as "Endangered" by the IUCN, their survival depends on protecting forests and empowering community-led conservation.

PHOTO: NOBEL CHAKMA