Assam, Arunachal Forest Staff Provided With Capacity-Building Training In Hoolock Gibbon Conservation

GUWAHATI: Aaranyak, an organization focused on research and conservation in Northeast India, has partnered with the Assam Forest Department to conduct training on conserving Hoolock gibbons. The goal of these sessions is to address conservation challenges and encourage a conservation-minded approach.

Dr. Dilip Chetry, the Head of Aaranyak’s Primate Research and Conservation Division, talked about the Western Hoolock Gibbon (Hoolock hoolock), also called the "Ape of India." He explained that it lives in the seven northeastern states of India, mostly along the southern bank of the Brahmaputra River and to the east of the Debang River.

The week-long residential course aimed to give forest staff the necessary skills and knowledge for conserving Hoolock gibbons. The training included important topics such as biodiversity and conservation in Northeast India, primate conservation, methods for counting and estimating gibbon populations, data collection and reporting, monitoring habitats, studying plants, restoring habitats, rescuing and rehabilitating gibbons, using GPS in the field, and understanding wildlife laws.

Each day’s lectures were followed by field exercises, giving participants practical experience in conservation research. The training had 20 forest officials from Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, with 14 men and 6 women. They represented various divisions, including Doomdoma, Digboi, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Jorhat, Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, and Kamlang Tiger Reserve.

The training began on February 7, with Dr. Dilip Chetry, a well-known primatologist in India, chairing the opening session. It ended with participants getting study materials like a manual, books on the Hoolock gibbon, posters, and certificates.

Forest Range Officer Angsuman Bhuyan from Mariani Range emphasized the need to apply the training in protecting Hoolock gibbon habitats and conserving the species. He thanked Aaranyak for its ongoing work in training Assam Forest Department staff, emphasizing how important these efforts are for protecting endangered species.

Dr. Chetry talked about the challenges the Hoolock gibbon faces, mentioning that poaching, habitat loss, and encroachment are major threats. He also pointed out the lack of awareness about Hoolock gibbon conservation methods among different groups, including forest staff.

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