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Discovery of Sela Macaque

A science-media collaboration with Zoological Survey of India to support the identification of a new primate species in Arunachal Pradesh.

In 2021, I along with fellow Wildlife Filmmaker Paushali Saha joined a team of biologists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) on an expedition to the Eastern Himalayas. Their goal was to study what would later be described as a new species of macaque the Sela Macaque (Macaca selai), found only in a small, high-altitude region of Arunachal Pradesh. As a filmmaker and photographer, my role was to support their research by visually documenting the expedition, the scientific process, and the species itself, creating accessible media outputs that could reach beyond academic circles.

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Project Objectives

Collaborate with Scientists

Join the field team to document the expedition and scientific process.

Visual Storytelling

Produce a short film and photo archive to support science communication.

Public Engagement

Provide media assets for outreach, publishing, and conservation promotion.

A snippet from the final Film

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Findings & Impact

The field expedition confirmed that the macaque population in question was genetically distinct from Macaca munzala, having diverged nearly two million years ago. The isolation imposed by the Sela Pass contributed to this speciation event. The Sela Macaque is now recognized for its unique morphology including a pale face, long tail, and brown neck ruff and has been officially added to the sinica group of macaques.

As part of the science communication effort, the expedition led to the creation of:

  • A short documentary film highlighting the discovery process

  • A collection of photographs used for public outreach and scientific communication

  • Featured visuals in national publications and the book Indian Mammals by Vivek Menon, a key reference in Indian mammalogy

This project serves as an example of how media and science can work together to bring attention to the hidden richness of Himalayan biodiversity and the urgent need to conserve it.

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