The wildlife experts stressed the need for the conservation of Hoolock Gibbons, an endangered species, in Assam during a webinar, conducted by India Tourism in collaboration with NE Focus (nefocus.com).
“A total of 20 hoolock gibbon species are found in the world and there is only one species of the animal is found in the Northeast,” said Dr Narayan Sharma, assistant professor at Cotton University, while participating in the webinar.
“Canopy should be used for conservation of hoolock gibbons,” Dr Sharma said while speaking at the webinar on the “Preservation and conservation of endangered and rare species of Assam with special reference to hoolock gibbon.”
After the Covid19 pandemic, wildlife tourism has reached a new height.
Participating in the webinar, Dr. Amit Sahai, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife), Assam said, “The forest department has taken initiatives to conserve hoolock gibbons.”
“It has been planned to prepare canopies and construct ropeway in Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary. We have discussed the matter with the chief minister,” Dr Sahai said.
Dr Dilip Chetry, head of Primate Research & Conservation Division of Aaranyak, spoke in detail about the conservation of hoolock gibbons and made several suggestions.
Sankha Subhra Devbarman, regional director, India Tourism, Northeast, also spoke on the endangered and rare species and the biodiversity aspect.
The webinar was also attended by many students, nature lovers, tourists and journalists.
The editor of NE Focus (nefocus.com), Sangeeta Saikia and Sangeeta Bhattacharya also participated in the webinar.
The Hoollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam’s Jorhat district is the first protected area in the country where gibbon is the target species for conservation.