TURA: The A’chik Holistic Awakening Movement (AHAM) and HURO – a Hoolock Gibbons Conservation Initiative – have called on Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma to implement urgent measures to prevent the electrocution of gibbons in the state.
This appeal follows a series of tragic incidents, the most recent of which occurred earlier this year in Gondenggre village of Meghalaya.
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A male Western Hoolock Gibbon was electrocuted on an 11 kV high-voltage power line.
This tragedy echoed a similar event in 2021 at the same location, where another adult male gibbon died from electrocution, prompting local residents to perform last rites.
In October 2023, a sub-adult female gibbon suffered the same fate in Tura town.
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“These incidents are not isolated; they represent a persistent and escalating threat to the Western Hoolock Gibbons in our region,” the organizations stated.
“The loss of these precious creatures is not only a blow to our biodiversity but also a significant cultural and ecological loss. The Western Hoolock Gibbon is a vital part of our natural heritage and an indicator of the health of our forest ecosystems.”
To address this issue, AHAM and HURO have proposed several protective measures.
These include securing high-voltage power lines with insulated or coated wires at critical points and installing protective netting in areas where gibbons are known to traverse, particularly in Gondenggre and Silsotchigre.
The conservation groups hope that the Meghalaya chief minister will take proactive steps to implement these measures and safeguard the gibbons, ensuring the preservation of Meghalaya’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage.