Of the 26 species of non-human primates found in India only one, the hoolock gibbon, is an ape. Hoolock gibbons are classified as lesser apes (different from great apes like chimps), with two subspecies found in India: western hoolock (hoolock hoolock) and eastern hoolock gibbon (hoolock leuconedys). The distribution of both species is restricted to the south bank of the Dibang-Brahmaputra river system in the seven states of the Northeast. A maximum of 10,000 gibbons are now left in India. The western hoolock gibbon is ‘Endangered’ according to the IUCN Red List, though it is widely distributed in all the seven states of the Northeast. Eastern hoolocks are listed as a ‘Vulnerable’ species and they are found only in eastern Arunachal Pradesh and in the Sadiya subdivision of Assam. Both are on Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India, 1972.
Tropical, evergreen and semi-evergreen forests and subtropical moist deciduous forests are the primary habitats of hoolock gibbons. Being an exclusively arboreal creature and a true brachiator (using their long arms to move), hoolocks depend on having high canopy coverage in their habitat. All gibbons including hoolocks are frugivores, monogamous, territorial, and canopy dwellers. Fruits are a major part of their diet, while leaves and leaf buds, flowers, flower buds, and animal protein (insects, spiders, birds’ eggs) are also consumed.
They emit elaborate calls commonly referred as ‘gibbon song’ which can be heard up to two kilometres away. A gibbon family ideally consists of one adult male, one adult female, and one to four young offspring.
Gibbons play a vital role in the ecosystem. Because fruit is such a prominent part of their daily diet, they are important dispersers of undigested fruit seeds and are therefore integral to maintaining forest health. Habitat destruction and loss, along with habitat fragmentation, habitat shrinkage, and hunting have been identified as the primary threats to these apes.
The continuous process of degradation and destruction of the forests in which they live pose a dire threat to the future existence of these apes. Encroachment has led to the fragmentation of their habitat, which in turn has caused small populations of hoolock gibbons to become concentrated in a few forest pockets. Already populations of hoolock gibbons have become locally extinct in some habitats. Added to this grim situation is the lack of basic information and poor conservation awareness about the species, even among frontline staff of the forest department. All these issues are a major hindrance to the conservation of this species.
Since 2004, Aaranyak, a scientific and industrial research organisation and leading NGO in Northeast India, has been at the forefront of programmes for the conservation of hoolock gibbons, especially in Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary. Aaranyak advocates a holistic approach to conservation. It has carried out multidimensional conservation activities with the support from the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Hollongapar. As a part of this unique approach, conservation activities are focused on a number of areas: research, education, awareness, training and capacity building, plantation and habitat improvement. Socio-economic development and community involvement projects were carried out in phases for better long-term conservation of this endangered species.
The programmes achieved phenomenal success in various areas. A well-furnished and well-equipped centre the ‘Gibbon Conservation Centre’ was established for conducting various field-based training programmes. The programmes produced a trained group of foresters, students, teachers, researchers, and NGO workers to carry the message of conservation to a wider circle. Two popular books on hoolock gibbons, namely Aamar Holou (Assamese) and Hoolock: The Ape of India (English), were produced. These books provide all the basic information on taxonomy, distribution, ecology and ethology of hoolock gibbons and have been instrumental in carrying information about gibbons to the masses. Additionally, education and awareness programmes covered 50,000 students from primary to college level. Local people have received training in alternative income generation, in areas like mushroom cultivation, honeybee keeping, and duck farming. Moreover, 29 self-help groups were formed for the economic upliftment of fringe communities. To reduce the pressure on the forest, improvised chulhas (stoves) and biogas plants were distributed to those families identified during the socio-economic survey. In addition to this handloom sets and ducks were also distributed among the self-help groups for income generation.
The multidimensional approaches and strategies launched for the conservation of the gibbon and its habitat has ultimately shown positive results. There was reduction in the use of fuel wood from the forest. Changes were observed both in populations of gibbons as well as in the habitat. Numbers in Hollongapar went from 64 gibbons in 2004 to around 100 in 2019. The greatest outcome of these activities is the development of natural canopy bridges across the railway track passing through gibbon sanctuary since 1887. This bridge which took 13 long years for its formation has finally allowed gibbons and other arboreal species to move from compartment I to compartment II of the sanctuary after a gap of 132 years.
Further, Aaranyak with the support from the US Fish and Wildlife Service has also trained 200 forest guards, 300 foresters, and 100 local youth for the conservation of hoolock gibbons from the three habitat states namely Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland. Due to the initiation of these different activities hoolock gibbon conservation has gained momentum. Along with Aaranyak other agencies like PRC (Primate Research Centre) NE, Environ, NERIST, Cotton University, Wildlife Areas Development and Welfare Trust, CEE, and Wildlife Trust of India have also become involved in the conservation of hoolock gibbons in Northeast India.
Despite the conservation efforts of various NGOs and other organisations the hoolock gibbon is not out of danger. It is of critical importance to reinforce efforts and strategies to ensure long-term conservation of hoolock gibbons and their habitats in India. Large scale habitat destruction continues throughout its distribution range. The government has yet to consider seriously the conservation issues affecting the hoolock gibbons and other primate species. Even today, India does not have a national level agenda for the country’s only ape species. Hopefully with an increasing number of in-depth studies, appropriate government policies will come about and help save the hoolock gibbon in India.
ESSENTIAL CONSERVATION MEASURES
If the hoolock gibbon is to continue to thrive in Northeast India, conservation measures that involve local communities and include a long-term vision are needed, along with regular population monitoring and ecological studies.
The following steps are essential:
i. Large scale awareness programmes at community, school, college, and university level to educate people about the need for gibbon conservation.
ii. Support from communities for conservation and weaning them away from traditional hunting.
iii. Introduction of subsidiary income generating schemes that are conservation friendly as well as economically viable so as to reduce jhum cultivation.
iv. Setting in place mechanisms that offset and share the cost of crop loss due to crop depredation, which can otherwise lead to primate persecution.
v. Regular estimation and monitoring of hoolock gibbon populations, involving local communities (five-year intervals).
vi. Genetic and parasitological studies of the species.
vii. Large scale plantation of gibbon-friendly food plants, eco-restoration of degraded forest areas, and construction of natural canopy bridges where gibbon groups are trapped or isolated.
viii. More areas with the potential for gibbon conservation to be added to the protected area network.
ix. Hoolock Gibbon Sanctuary can be upgraded to a National Park for better protection.
x. Proper implementation of existing wildlife laws, and smooth monitoring of protected areas.
xi. Improve infrastructure and facilities and strengthen and boost the morale and motivation of the wildlife department by facilitating training, basic infrastructure, and resources.
xii. International collaborations in trans-boundary conservation programme (China-Myanmar-India-Bangladesh) are urgently needed.
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