Hoolock gibbon translocated to Mehao wildlife sanctuary

GUWAHATI: A hoolock gibbon which was stranded in Dello village of Arunachal's Lower Dibang Valley district has successfully been translocated to Mehao wildlife sanctuary in the state recently.

This was the seventh gibbon, out of twenty stranded hoolock gibbons, to be translocated in an exercise by the state forest department and the International Fund for Animal Welfare-Wildlife Trust of India (IFAW-WTI).

The Hoolock gibbons, the only ape species found in the sub-continent, were stranded due to increasing deforestation in the area.

Hoolock gibbons use contiguous forest canopy to move, and the lack of adequate forest cover in the village forced them to come down to land, putting their lives at risk.

"The translocated hoolock gibbons have a chance of survival if they are placed in suitable habitats," IFAW's vice president of program and international operations, Ian Robinson said.

Mehao wildlife division (MWD)'s divisional forest officer, Keijum Rina said the translocation would go a long way in strengthening conservation efforts for the species.