Daring Rescue: Saving Hoolock Gibbons in Arunachal Pradesh

A family of Hoolock gibbons was saved in a four-day operation in Arunachal Pradesh. The group, trapped due to deforestation, was relocated to Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary. Veterinary and wildlife experts highlighted the critical nature of the rescue, which involved significant coordination and expertise.

In a daring four-day operation, a stranded family of Hoolock gibbons was rescued from a single ficus tree in Horu Pahar village, Arunachal Pradesh. The gibbons, including an adult male, an adult female, and a juvenile, were displaced due to habitat fragmentation caused by agricultural expansion.

Veterinary and conservation teams from the Wildlife Trust of India, with significant assistance from mountaineering volunteers, extracted the gibbons safely and relocated them to the Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary. The rescue operation required high technical precision to avoid fatal falls.

Officials have identified more stranded gibbon families, indicating ongoing efforts to address habitat fragmentation. The state forest department, emphasizing the gibbons' conservation significance as India's only ape, pledged continued support and community engagement to ensure their survival.

(With inputs from agencies.)