Latest news with #WesternHoolockGibbon
News18
7 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.
News18
25-07-2025
- General
- News18
Tripura steps up efforts to save Indias last ape species
Agency: PTI Last Updated: Agartala, Jul 25 (PTI) The Tripura government unveiled a detailed action plan aimed at protecting the endangered Western Hoolock Gibbon — the only ape species found in India, in a major push for wildlife conservation. This initiative marks a significant milestone in the state's efforts to safeguard its fragile biodiversity and tackle the alarming decline in the gibbon population. Listed as 'endangered" on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Western Hoolock Gibbon enjoys the highest degree of legal protection. Yet, its numbers have continued to decline over the years, largely due to habitat loss, hunting, and human-wildlife conflicts. Tripura, an ecologically rich state in the northeast, harbours one of the country's last remaining gibbon populations. These agile, tree-dwelling primates are known for their spectacular aerial swings across forest canopies and hauntingly melodic calls that echo through the jungle. But once-flourishing forests have shrunk and fragmented, leaving fewer safe spaces for them to thrive. A survey in 2005 recorded 97 individual gibbons across three forest patches in Tripura. That number has since dipped to 79, divided among 32 groups, officials said. Nationally, the gibbon population stood at about 12,000 two decades ago, but conservationists fear it may now be significantly lower. Tripura University's professor Sabyasachi Dasgupta, who is actively involved in the project, said establishing protocols for long-term population monitoring and restoring degraded forest habitats are part of the action plan. Training forest staff and law enforcement in wildlife protection, conducting ecological and behavioural research and promoting community awareness and participation in conservation are also the goals of it, he said. The gibbons of the state mainly live in protected areas such as Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary in South Tripura, and forests in Gomati and Khowai districts. However, conservationists caution that without proactive steps to prevent further forest degradation, gibbons may vanish from the wild. 'We are emphasising the need to maintain cultural integrity while protecting the gibbons," Dasgupta said. 'Traditional methods like shifting cultivation are deeply rooted, but they often disrupt forest continuity. We need strategies that reduce ecological harm while respecting cultural traditions. Canopy connectivity is crucial for gibbon movement and survival," he added. Divisional Forest Officer of Gomati H Vignesh said gibbons have been spotted in the Amarpur subdivision, though accurate population data is still being collected. Bimal Das, the assistant conservator at Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary, confirmed that eight gibbons are currently thriving within its core zone. Grassroots conservation campaigns are also underway, with NGOs and academics engaging communities living near forest fringes. These programmes aim to reduce human-animal conflict, especially incidents involving crop damage and encroachment, while highlighting the ecological role of gibbons, officials said. As awareness grows and conservation efforts gain momentum, environmentalists believe Tripura has the potential to become a model for gibbon preservation across the region, and a beacon of hope for India's only ape. PTI JOY SOM view comments First Published: July 25, 2025, 10:30 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.
