Green corridor & fruit tree initiative to give Barekuri's gibbons new lease of life

Time of India

a day ago

Dibrugarh: In a landmark move for wildlife conservation, Tinsukia DC Swapneel Paul unveiled two ambitious initiatives on World Environment Day aimed at safeguarding the endangered Hoolock Gibbons in Barekuri village.
The projects — a green corridor connecting Barekuri to a nearby wildlife sanctuary and a large-scale plantation of fruit-bearing trees — mark a significant step in ensuring the long-term survival of the primates, which have shared a unique bond with the villagers for generations.
Barekuri, a small village in Tinsukia district, gained national fame after PM Narendra Modi highlighted its community-led conservation efforts in his Mann ki Baat address last August.
The village, recently honoured with the Asom Gaurav Award, has become a beacon of hope for wildlife preservation, particularly the Hoolock Gibbon — India's only ape species, classified as endangered by the IUCN.
Two years ago, Barekuri villagers raised alarms over rising gibbon deaths caused by electrocution from exposed power lines. Responding swiftly, the district administration insulated all bare transmission lines in the area, drastically reducing fatalities.
The success of the project laid the foundation for Thurday's initiatives. The first initiative — green corridor development — aims to link Barekuri's gibbon population with those in the Bherjan-Borajan-Padumoni Wildlife Sanctuary. The second initiative — fruit-bearing tree plantation — addresses the gibbons' dietary needs sustainably. The district administration distributed 5,000 saplings of indigenous fruit trees, including Bhimkol (a local banana variety), jackfruit, and figs, to villagers.
"Today marks a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to protect the Hoolock Gibbons. These initiatives will not only ensure the safety of our gibbon population but also create sustainable pathways for their long-term survival," DC Swapneel Paul said
The launch event saw enthusiastic participation from students, conservationists, and villagers. In a poignant moment, DC Paul plucked a Bhimkol from a banana tree and offered it to a gibbon—a tradition villagers have followed for decades.