In continuation of its efforts to conserve India's last apes, the International Fund for Animal Welfare-Wildlife Trust of India (IFAW-WTI) in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department has successfully translocated two eastern Hoolock gibbons from Dello village in Arunachal Pradesh to a safer and more suitable habitat in the Mehao WIldlife Sanctuary in the State.
The translocation of the Hoolock gibbons necessitated as the habitat for these gibbons in the area had degraded to a large extent, said WTI project leader and primatologist Kuladeep Roy while adding that this is the sixth such incident where Hoolock gibbons are translocated from Dello area.
“The gibbons are completely arboreal in nature and require a lot of trees for sustenance, mobility and survival. Now there are only isolated clusters of trees remaining in the area, if any at all. This restricts gibbon movement often forcing them to descend from the high tree tops to the ground where they can't move with ease and instances of conflict and predation arise,” he explained.
Hoolock gibbons are the only apes found in India, with their distribution restricted to the country's northeast region. Two species have been identified here - eastern Hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys) and western Hoolock gibbons (Hoolock hoolock). They are protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wild life (Protection) Act, 1972.
This was the fourth leg of the Mehao Gibbon Translocation Project making it the sixth family to be shifted. The last move had been carried out almost a year ago in December 2012 where a family of three Hoolock gibbons had been moved from the Dello village.
“Gibbons essentially live in strong familial units. Capturing every family is extremely difficult to begin with and the more complex the terrain, the more laborious and cautious the operation becomes. Every single capture and release carried out by the IFAW-WTI team has been meticulously planned ensuring as little stress to the gibbons as possible,” said Ipra Mekola, member of the Arunachal Pradesh State Wildlife Advisory Board.
Roy said that several awareness programmes are also being held all year round in Dello village by the conservation team to sensitise the locals towards the plight of the gibbons in a bid to reduce conflict and to encourage afforestation and salvage the remaining habitat for these apes.
“Earlier in 2013, one of the female gibbons we had translocated gave birth in the wild which was a huge success since this is a major indicator of a successful rehabilitation. It meant that the gibbons are feeling completely at home in the release site,” said Sunil Kyarong, the Regional Head of Arunachal Pradesh for WTI.