In a significant stride towards biodiversity preservation, the Tripura government has launched a comprehensive action plan aimed at protecting the Western Hoolock Gibbon, India’s sole ape species. This urgent initiative comes amidst escalating concerns over the dwindling numbers and shrinking natural habitats of these arboreal primates.
The Western Hoolock Gibbon, categorised as “endangered” by the IUCN and afforded the highest legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, has faced a troubling decline. Factors such as extensive habitat loss, illegal hunting, and increasing instances of human-wildlife conflict have severely impacted their population. A survey conducted in 2005 recorded 97 gibbons across three distinct forest zones in Tripura. However, current figures from forest officials paint a grim picture, with the population now estimated at a mere 79 individuals, scattered across 32 fragmented groups.
Tripura, renowned for its rich biodiversity, remains one of the last bastions for these agile, tree-dwelling creatures, celebrated for their spectacular acrobatic movements through dense forest canopies and their distinctive, haunting vocal calls. Despite this, the relentless fragmentation of forests has drastically diminished their natural living spaces, pushing them to the brink of severe risk.
To counter this dire situation, the Tripura Forest Department, in a collaborative effort with Tripura University and the prominent conservation NGO Aaranyak, organised a multi-stakeholder workshop earlier this year. The objective was to meticulously design a strategic roadmap for conservation. This newly formulated plan encompasses a range of crucial measures, including dedicated habitat restoration projects, specialised training programmes for forest personnel, extensive community outreach initiatives, and robust long-term ecological monitoring systems.
Professor Sabyasachi Dasgupta of Tripura University, a pivotal figure in the development of this action plan, underscored the critical importance of striking a delicate balance between traditional cultural practices, such as shifting cultivation, and the imperative ecological needs of the gibbons. “We need to reduce harm without disrupting indigenous practices. Canopy connectivity is vital for the survival of gibbons,” he emphasised, highlighting the necessity of interconnected forest canopies for the gibbons’ survival and movement.
Presently, the gibbon populations within the state are primarily concentrated in the Trishna Wildlife Sanctuary in South Tripura and in various forest areas within the Gomati and Khowai districts. Assistant Conservator Bimal Das confirmed the presence of eight healthy gibbons thriving within Trishna’s core zone. Concurrently, DFO Gomati H Vignesh reported sightings in the Amarpur subdivision, though comprehensive data for this region is still under compilation.
Furthermore, the action plan places significant emphasis on launching grassroots conservation campaigns. These campaigns aim to mitigate conflicts arising from crop damage caused by wildlife and to actively encourage local community participation in wildlife protection efforts. Officials express optimism that these community-driven initiatives will significantly bolster long-term conservation outcomes, ultimately positioning Tripura as a pioneering model for gibbon preservation not only within the state but across the entire Northeast India region.
Through this pioneering initiative, Tripura is poised to emerge as a frontline state in primate conservation. The objective extends beyond merely safeguarding its indigenous gibbon population; it also aspires to serve as a practical blueprint for protecting India’s diverse and endangered wildlife heritage.
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