Prime Minister Narendra Modi in “Mann Ki Baat” praised the people of Assam for their strong bond with animals. He highlighted the relationship between the Moran community in Barekuri village and the hoolock gibbons, known as ‘holou bandar’.
Villagers' Commitment to Tradition:
The villagers maintain traditional values, including caring for the gibbons as they would for family members.
They grow bananas for the gibbons and perform rituals for them associated with birth and death.
The gibbons are also given names by the villagers.
Innovative Wildlife Protection Efforts in Arunachal Pradesh:
Initiatives led by Nabam Bapu and Likha Nana use 3-D printing technology to protect wildlife.
This technology produces replicas of animal horns and tusks to prevent hunting, and these replicas are used in apparel and headgear.
Hoolock Gibbon
Gibbons, the smallest and fastest apes, are native to tropical and subtropical forests in Southeast Asia.
They exhibit high intelligence, unique personalities, and strong family bonds, akin to other apes.
There are 20 different species of gibbons globally.
The hoolock gibbon population is estimated at around 12,000 individuals.
They are found in forested regions across Northeast India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Southern China.
Gibbon Species in India:
Found in Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura, south of the Brahmaputra.
India’s northeastern region is home to two gibbon species: the eastern hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys) and the western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock).
Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Jorhat, Assam has the largest concentration of the hoolock gibbon.
Features of gibbons:
Physical Appearance:
Male and female gibbons are similar in size but differ in colour.
Males are black with striking white eyebrows, while females have grey-brown fur that darkens around the chest and neck.
They have white rings around their eyes and mouths, giving their faces a mask-like look.
Behavior and Lifestyle:
Gibbons are active during the day and live in trees, using their long arms to swing from branch to branch.
They form lifelong monogamous pairs and live in small family groups consisting of parents and their offspring.
Communication among gibbons involves vocalizations, with their loud calls helping to identify individuals within and beyond their family group.
Intelligence and Social Structure:
Highly intelligent, gibbons exhibit distinct personalities and maintain strong family bonds.
Their lifespan typically reaches up to 25 years.
Conservation Status:
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List:
Western hoolock gibbons are classified as Endangered.
Eastern hoolock gibbons are classified as Vulnerable.
Both species are protected under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972
Threats:
All gibbon species, including hoolock gibbons, face a high risk of extinction due to various conservation challenges.
Gibbon populations and their habitats have dramatically decreased over the last century, with remaining populations confined to tropical rainforests.
In India, deforestation for infrastructure development is the primary threat to hoolock gibbons.
Key initiatives aimed at protecting the hoolock gibbons:
Habitat Preservation:
Establishing and expanding protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries to safeguard the natural habitats of hoolock gibbons.
Implementing and enforcing anti-deforestation measures to prevent habitat loss due to logging and infrastructure development.
Community Engagement:
Encouraging local communities to participate in conservation activities, such as growing banana plants to support gibbons, as seen in Assam.
Raising awareness among local populations about the importance of protecting gibbons and their habitats through educational programs and workshops.
Research and Monitoring:
Conducting research on gibbon genetics, behavior, and ecology to better understand their needs and threats, as exemplified by studies from the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad.
Regular monitoring of gibbon populations and their habitats to track changes and address emerging threats promptly.
Legislative and Policy Measures:
Enforcing laws and regulations that protect gibbons and their habitats, such as the Indian Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, which lists gibbons on Schedule 1.
Strengthening measures to combat illegal hunting and trade of gibbons and their body parts.
Collaborative Efforts:
Forming partnerships between government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and local communities to implement comprehensive conservation strategies.
Securing funding and resources for conservation projects and ensuring their effective implementation.
These initiatives aim to ensure the survival of hoolock gibbons by addressing the various threats they face and promoting a collaborative approach to wildlife conservation.
