Arunachal Pradesh: Kamlang Tiger Reserve Ramps up Conservation of Hoolock Gibbon

GUWAHATI: The region's premier research-driven biodiversity conservation organisation, Aaranyak, in collaboration with the authority in the Kamlang Tiger Reserve of Arunachal Pradesh, organized a Hoolock gibbon conservation training workshop at the interpretation centre of the Tiger Reserve at Wakro in Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh on November 8 and 9. The initiative was supported by the Arcus Foundation.

The training programme was focused on introducing the forest staff to Hoolock gibbon, the only ape of India, and motivating them for the conservation of this threatened species. Hoolock gibbon is an endangered species of primates that is found in the seven states of Northeast India and restricted to the south bank of the Brahmaputra-Dibang river system. Kamlang Tiger Reserve, with an area of 783 sq km, is the potential habitat of this charismatic species. This training, facilitated by Aaranyak, is the first of its kind in Arunachal Pradesh. The workshop was inaugurated by the Divisional Forest Officer cum Director of Kamlang TR Jumdo Geyi, DCF. Geyi, while appreciating Aaranyak for conducting this training for the greater interest of Hoolock gibbon conservation in the state, requested that all the participants attend the classes with commitment and learn from the experts so that they can apply in the field.

Senior primatologist Dr. Dilip Chetry, Head of Aaranyak's Primate Research and Conservation Division as well as Vice Chair of the IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group, South Asia, was the resource person in this first session of the training workshop. He highlighted the current conservation status of Hoolock gibbon, its threats, and its conservation needs. Dr. Chetry also highlighted the different population estimation methods for gibbon. He requested the forest department of the state consider Hoolock gibbon as a flagship species for the conservation of biodiversity in this region.

The ranger officer of the Kamlang Tiger Reserve, Bunty Tao, highlighted the practical difficulties in the field and how to tackle the use of the GPS and requested that the forest staff make use of this workshop to empower themselves on the application of GPS and GIS. In the second session of the workshop, Arup Kumar Das, Senior Manager of the Geospatial Technology and Applications Division of Aaranyak, highlighted the application of GPS in wildlife research. Hands-on GPS training was conducted by Aaranyak's Avishek Sarkar, Akshay Kumar Upadhyaya, Simanta Medhi, and Pitam Jyoti Gore, which included waypoints, tracks, proximity, and related aspects.

In the first session of the second day of the workshop, participants undertook field practice of the GPS and also recorded the four gibbon calls from different directions with the help of the experts at Mithun Gate of Kamlang TR. The GIS practical session of the training was conducted with support from Avishek Sarkar, Akshay Kumar, and Aditya Das, a field biologist from Kamlang Tiger Reserve.

There were 52 participants from Kamlang TR and Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar. The training programme concluded with the distribution of the study material and posters for Hoolock Gibbon and QGIS software, stated a press release.

Also Read:   Primatologist discusses conservation possibilities for Hoolock gibbon, Golden langur

Also Watch: