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News18
6 days ago
- General
- News18
Indias only ape Western Hoolock Gibbon under threat: Primatologist
Guwahati, Aug 6 (PTI) The endangered Western Hoolock Gibbons, the only ape of India, are under threat with cases of local extinction already observed in fragmented forest patches in the northeast region, a primatologist said here on Wednesday. Habitat loss due to encroachment, unregulated resource extraction, infrastructure development, tea plantations, shifting cultivation, hunting, and wildlife trafficking are threats to these primates, he said. "There has been a steady decline in the population of Western Hoolock Gibbons with cases of local extinction observed in fragmented forest patches of the northeastern region in India," primatologist Dilip Chetry said after returning from Antananarivo in Madagascar, where the 30th Congress of the International Primatological Society (IPS) was held recently. He urged the central government to initiate a national-level Project Gibbon, modelled on Project Tiger or Project Elephant, to ensure the long-term survival of India's only ape. He pointed out that the Western Hoolock Gibbon is one of the 20 gibbon species found in Asia, and its distribution spans eastern Bangladesh, northeastern India, and parts of Myanmar. The population of the ape in India is restricted to the southern bank of the Brahmaputra river and east of the Dibang river across seven states in the northeast region. The primatologist, who is also the vice chair of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group – South Asia, called for urgent conservation actions, including the restoration of degraded habitats, creation of ecological corridors, scientific research, capacity building for forest staff, and community engagement. He also stressed the need to promote the Western Hoolock Gibbon as a flagship species to generate broader public and policy support for biodiversity conservation in the region. Chetry urged the Centre to develop a dedicated 'Gibbon Conservation Action Plan' for each state in northeast India, leading towards a national action plan with dedicated budgetary support. The Congress of the International Primatological Society, held from 20–25 July, brought together 657 registered delegates from 53 countries to evaluate the world's 25 most endangered primates for 2025–2027. The Congress declared 25 most endangered primates of the world, which include six from Asia- Banka Slow Loris, Sangihe Tarsier, Pig-tailed Langur, Myanmar Snub-nosed Monkey, Tapanuli Orangutan and Western Hoolock Gibbon, Chetry said. PTI DG BDC view comments First Published: August 06, 2025, 13:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Hindu
03-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Dedicated gibbon conservation action plan sought in NE
GUWAHATI A leading Assam-based primatologist has sought a dedicated gibbon conservation action plan modelled on Project Tiger or Project Elephant to ensure the long-term survival of the western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), India's only ape species. Addressing the 30th Congress of the International Primatological Society (IPS) at Antananarivo in Madagascar from July 20-25, India representative Dilip Chetry underscored the urgency of a national-level Project Gibbon given the grave threats the ape faces from habitat loss. One of 20 gibbon species found in Asia and currently listed as endangered on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the hoolock gibbon is distributed across eastern Bangladesh, parts of Myanmar, and India's northeastern region. The primate's populations in India are restricted to the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River and east of the Dibang River across seven northeastern States – Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura. 'The hoolock gibbon faces habitat loss due to encroachment, unregulated resource extraction, infrastructure development, tea plantations, shifting cultivation, fragmentation, hunting, and the illegal wildlife trade. Cases of local extinction have already been observed in fragmented forest patches of the northeast, reflecting a steady population decline,' said Dr Chetry, who serves as the vice chair of the Primate Specialist Group–South Asia under the IUCN's Species Survival Commission (SSC). He advocated for urgent conservation actions, including the restoration of degraded habitats, creation of ecological corridors, scientific research, capacity building for forest staff, and community engagement. He also stressed the need to promote the western hoolock gibbon as a flagship species to generate broader public and policy support for biodiversity conservation in the region. The IPS convention brought together 657 delegates from 53 countries to evaluate the world's 25 most endangered primates for 2025-27. Its special session was chaired by Russell A. Mittermeier, a conservationist and chair of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group. Dr. Chetry, also the director and head of the Primate Research and Conservation Division of Aaranyak, a biodiversity conservation organisation, said the western hoolock gibbon is among the six of the world's 25 most endangered primates from Asia. The other five are the Banka slow loris (Nycticebus bancanus), Sangihe tarsier (Tarsius sangirensis), pig-tailed langur (Simias concolor), Myanmar snub-nosed monkey (Rhinopithecus strykeri), and the Tapanuli orangutan (Pongo tapanuliensis).
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Experts reveal troubling trend driving illegal trade: 'When wealth increases, it correlates with a high number of trafficking'
Wildlife trafficking in India is on the rise, and conservationists are concerned about one primate species. Social media and growing affluence in the most populous country on Earth are contributing to an increase in the illegal trade of gibbons and other wildlife, Mongabay reported. Authorities seized 3,951 exotic species across 56 operations in 2023, and there were three seizures of gibbons alone last year. Primates from Indonesia, Malaysia, Latin America, and Africa have arrived in India only over the last few years, primatologist Dilip Chetry of wildlife conservation nonprofit Aaranyak said. The jungle border with Bangladesh offers traffickers easy access to the country, and unenforced laws provide another avenue, according to the outlet. TikTok is contributing to the problem via celebrities and advertisements, and prosperity is too. "When wealth increases, it correlates with a high number of trafficking, as people want to own pets that are considered rare or unique or beautiful, and they hold a certain level of appeal," Kanitha Krishnasamy, Southeast Asia director at TRAFFIC, also known as the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network, told Mongabay. Gibbons are "one of the most threatened primate groups," according to the outlet, with five critically endangered species and 14 endangered species among their 20 species, which are all protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The small, tree-dwelling apes "make up most of the seizures" in northeastern India — reptiles are next — where they are moved elsewhere to be sold. Their capture is the second-leading threat to the creatures behind habitat destruction, and it's destroying the gibbons' complex social structures as well as native ecosystems. Adult female and infant gibbons are often killed in the process, and the captured ones can die or suffer trauma in transit. Despite these horrifying circumstances, gibbons don't garner the conservation support of other endangered wildlife, including, for example, the Malayan tiger and Asian elephant, Mongabay reported. Protecting wild animals helps to keep natural biodiversity in balance, and it also supports the economies of developing nations, many of which rely on tourism. Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Significant fines and other punishments can boost the effectiveness of laws, but if enforcement agencies are underfunded, traffickers will continue to exploit the system to their benefit. Mongabay reported that the illegal wildlife trade is worth $10 billion annually, and Krishnasamy emphasized the importance of investigations and convictions. "If the people that are behind the smuggling operations can be identified and put a dent in their business, it will make a difference in terms of how you also influence the demand and the supply," he said. To do your part, support conservation organizations that prioritize trafficking and consider eco-friendly travel destinations. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
