Dimapur, May 15 (EMN): A week-long training of third batch Forest Guards on conservation of endangered Hoolock Gibbon got underway at the State Environment and Forestry Training Institute (SEFTI) on May 11.
The training is being conducted by Aaranyak – a scientific and industrial research organisation with a mission of carrying out research, training and conservation activities in Northeast India, in collaboration with the Nagaland Forest department with support from US Fish and Wildlife Service.
The training was necessitated as there was lack of basic information and poor conservation awareness about the species among the different sections of the people including the frontline staff of the Nagaland Forest department, which was another major hindrance in the conservation of the species, an update from the Forest department stated.
It stated that a wide range of related topics including biodiversity in Northeast India and conservation, primates conservation in Northeast India with special reference to Hoolock Gibbon, Gibbon census or population estimation, Gibbon data collection, maintaining and reporting, techniques of floristic study, Gibbon habitat characteristic and restoration, population and habitat monitoring, Gibbon rescue and rehabilitation, global positioning system and use in field, and legal orientation (Wildlife Laws and its application) would be imparted during the training. The course would consist of daily lectures and field exercises.
Altogether, 25 Forest Guards from Intangki National Park, Nagaland Zoological Park, Wildlife divisions from Dimapur, Phek, Mon, Zunuheboto, Peren, Wokha, Tunsang Forest division, and WPO Kohima are attending the training programme.
