Nagaland: Consultative workshop on Hoolock gibbon underway

Dimapur, June 9 (EMN): A two-day workshop on Hoolock gibbon Conservation Action Plan got underway at State Environment and Forestry Training Institute (SEFTI), Dimapur from June 9 to the 10th.

Aaranyak, a scientific and industrial research organisation with a mission of carrying out research, training and conservation activities in Northeast India, in collaboration with Nagaland Forest department (Wildlife) with support from IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group’s Section on Small Apes (SSA) is organising the workshop, an update informed.

Supongnukshi Ao, Chief Conservator of Forest (Environment, Biodiversity and Research), addressed the participants and requested them to make use of the workshop to share and gain knowledge on Hoolock gibbon.

He also highlighted his own experience on how Hoolock gibbon gradually vanished from his native place and requested the community to come forward for conservation of Hoolock gibbon in their area.

Dr. Dilip Chetry, Head of Primate Research and Conservation Division of Aaranyak, said that the situation of Hoolock gibbon in Nagaland is alarming and needs the support from all quarters to survive in Nagaland.

Prof. Hilloljyoti Singh, Head, department of Zoology, Bodoland University shared his experiences of Hoolock Gibbon sightings elsewhere in Northeast India and expressed that the workshop would yield some new information from the local community.

Chief guest of the workshop, Prof. Parimal Chandra Bhattachajee shared his experience with Hoolock gibbon in Northeast as a research supervisor and university teacher. He requested the participants to make the best use of the workshop to develop the blueprint for Nagaland for the conservation of Gibbon, which is a near relative of humans.

During the programme, Dr. PC Bhattacharjee from Gauhati Unversity, Dr. HJ Singha of Bodoland University, Dr. Prabal Sarkar of University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, Dr. A Choudhury of Rhino Foundation, Dr. Jihosuo Biswas from Primate Research Centre NE, Yaranajit Deka of FES, Dr. Pranjal Das, Arup Kumar Das, Dr. Dilip Chetry of Aaranyak, Mridy Paban Phukanfrom Wildlife Conservation and Study Centre will be the resource persons of the workshop, it informed.

The workshop is a first of its kind in Nagaland, where the local community from nine districts of Nagaland, Nagaland Forest department, primatologist, experts from Bodoland University, Gauhati University, University of Science and Technology Meghalaya and NGOs — Aaranyak, Rhino Foundation, FES, Primate Research Centre NE — are planning together for the future conservation of the Hoolock gibbon in Nagaland.

There were also participants from Intanki National Park, Nagaland Zoological Park, Dimapur and the Kiphire Wildlife Division.

It may be mentioned that the endangered Western Hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock) is distributed in Northeast India. Their distribution in India is limited to the seven states of Northeast India on the southern bank of the Dibang – Brahmaputra river system.

Nagaland is one of the potential habitats of the endangered species. Unfortunately, habitat fragmentation and hunting have emerged as the major threats to gibbons in Nagaland.