Training on Hoolock gibbon conservation underway

As part of its series of trainings on conservation of the Hoolock gibbon, Aaranyak, a scientific and industrial research organisation in collaboration with Nagaland Forest department, supported by US Fish & Wildlife Service, organised “Hoolock gibbon conservation training programme” for the third batch of forest guards at State Environment and Forestry Training Institute (SEFTI), Dimapur, on Wednesday.
In a press release, Aaranyak informed that during the inaugural programme, SEFTI Dimapur, director, M. Shakiba Yimchunger expressed hope that the training would help build the capacity of forest guards in conserving Hoolock gibbon in the state.
He said it was “our moral responsibility to save the species for our next generation.”
Head, Primate Research & Conservation Initiatives of Aaranyak, a society for biodiversity conservation in Northeast India, Dr. Dilip Chetry welcomed the trainees and requested them to make use of the training to enhance their knowledge on conservation of Hoolock gibbon in particular and biodiversity in general.
The inaugural session was addressed by deputy director, SEFTI Dimapur, Obed B. Swu.
Altogether, 25 forest guards from Intanki National Park, Zoological Park, Dimapur Wildlife Division, Phek, Mon, Zunheboto, Peren, Wokha, Tuensang Forest Division and WPO Kohima are attending the training programme.
Aaranyak informed that the week-long training will cover a wide range of topics including biodiversity in Northeast India and conservation, primates conservation in Northeast India with special reference to t, gibbon census or population estimation, gibbon data collection, maintaining & reporting, techniques of floristic study, gibbon habitat characteristic and restoration, population and habitat monitoring, gibbon rescue and rehabilitation, global positioning system & use in field and legal orientation.
It may be mentioned that the Western Hoolock gibbons are distributed in Northeast India, with Nagaland being one of the potential habitat of the endangered species.
Aaranyak lamented that habitat fragmentation and hunting were major threats to the gibbons.
Added to this situation, it said that there was a “lack of basic information and poor conservation awareness” in different sections, including the frontline staff of the Nagaland Forest department.