Coronavirus aftermath: Chinese experts skip Asian primate symposium in Guwahati

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The fatal coronavirus has come in the way of 24 experts from China, who were supposed to attend a three-day-long symposium in the city from Saturday.

The seventh ‘Asian Primate Symposium’ is being organized by Aaranyak, a leading wildlife NGO in collaboration with Gauhati University. Primatologists across Asia will get a common platform to share their findings, views and ideas regarding diverse primate-related issues through the symposium.

“Even though the 24 primate experts from China officially confirmed their participation in the Asian Primate Symposium, they will not be attending the event now as India has stopped giving e-visa to the Chinese nationals,” an official associated with the symposium said.

The Centre has temporarily suspended the e-visa facility for Chinese citizens travelling to India and foreigners dwelling in the neighbouring country. The government also issued a fresh travel advisory to Indian citizens saying anyone with travel history to China since January 15 can be quarantined.

While terming the development as a setback to the Asian Primate Symposium, the official said that the participants from the other Asian countries including India would miss their Chinese counterparts while sharing views and ideas regarding diverse primate-related issues.

“Exchange of thoughts and ideas among veterans and budding primatologists during the symposium will contribute significantly to the field of primatology and also help in the ongoing efforts of conservation and management of non-human primates. As Indians we want to have transboundary collaboration in the conservation of primates in particular and biodiversity in general,” an expert from Aaranyak said.

Guwahati has been selected as the organizing site for the both the symposium and pre-symposium training keeping in view the rich diversity of primates in Assam in particular and the Northeast in general. Asia has more than 183 primate species.

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