Itanagar, Jan 25: An infant gibbon was born to a family of relocated Eastern Hoolock gibbons in their new home at Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary (MWS), in Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, bringing much cheer to conservationists who rescued them.
The family is among the five stranded families rescued from the remote Dello village under the Mehao Gibbon Rescue Project launched by the Arunachal Pradesh forest department and International Fund for Animal Welfare – Wildlife Trust of India (IFAW–WTI).
About 15 more families are currently stranded in scattered trees separated in farmlands in Dello, awaiting relocation.
Named Ouiji (‘hope’ in local Idu Mishmi dialect), the infant was photographed on January 22 last by IFAW–WTI primatologist Dr Kuladeep Roy. It was born to the third family rescued and moved from Dello in February last year. The family was sighted moving about and feeding in a relaxed manner in the release site in Sally Lake of the sanctuary, official sources informed here today.
“This marks a milestone in our project,” remarked State advisory wildlife board member Ipra Mekola, who oversees the project on the ground.
It is well known that in mammals, especially primates, successful conception and gestation relies on favourable conditions in their environment. Accordingly, during the initiation of the project, breeding success was identified as one of the crucial indicators of the successful rehabilitation of the gibbons, sources said.
Till date, five families have been rescued from Dello and rehabilitated in the sanctuary. The last family was moved in December 7 last year. WTI chief veterinarian N V K Ashraf said, “We are preparing for capture of more families in Dello in the coming months. It’s always good to hear such news… makes our effort more worthwhile.” It is pertinent to mention here that a team of veterinarians and biologists from the (IFAW–WTI are assisting the State’s forest department in the relocation of the stranded gibbons which is supported by Noyen–Melendez Family Trust, Serenity Trust, and philanthropists Himraj Dang, Subhadra and Kannan Jayaraman. “The habitat of these endangered animals is degrading rapidly,” says Mekola. “Last year the team identified this group in Dello which urgently needed to be moved, as they were stranded in an isolated cluster of trees. Being canopy dwellers, their descent to the ground for food and water makes them vulnerable to predation and poaching,” she added.
Hoolock gibbons are the only apes found in India, with their distribution restricted to the country’s Northeast region.
Two species have been identified in the region which includes Eastern Hoolock gibbon (Hoolock leuconedys) and Western Hoolock gibbons (Hoolock hoolock). They are protected under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
