Guwahati: A seven-day intensive training workshop aimed at conserving the Hoolock gibbon, India’s only ape species, was conducted at the Gibbon Conservation Centre in Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, Assam.
Organised by biodiversity conservation group Aaranyak in collaboration with the Assam Forest Department’s Jorhat Forest Division, the programme focused on equipping frontline forest staff from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with essential knowledge and skills for gibbon conservation.
Supported by The Habitats Trust, IUCN SSC Primate Specialist Group, and IUCN Primate Section of Small Apes, the workshop hosted 24 participants—18 from Assam and six from Arunachal Pradesh.
The attendees, including nine men and 15 women, represented various forest divisions, including Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh and nine forest divisions across Assam.
Dr. Dilip Chetry, a senior primatologist and head of Aaranyak’s Primate Research and Conservation Division, inaugurated the fourth batch of the training programme.
In his address, Dr. Chetry highlighted the workshop’s objectives and encouraged active participation and knowledge-sharing among trainees.
The training curriculum covered a diverse range of topics, including primate ecology with a focus on the Hoolock gibbon, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity, wildlife laws, crime investigations, and advanced field techniques like GPS usage and population estimation.
Sessions also included practical skills such as snakebite awareness and wildlife rescue.
Experts from Aaranyak and other institutions, including Assam Agricultural University and the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, led the sessions.
Participants also engaged in field visits within the sanctuary, complementing classroom lectures with hands-on experience.
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Pre- and post-training evaluations assessed learning outcomes, while comprehensive resources such as manuals, books, and posters were distributed to participants.
Certificates of participation were awarded at the closing ceremony, attended by forest officials, including Range Officer Angshuman Bhuyan and Beat Officer Hiranya Bora.
The initiative underscores the importance of capacity building in conserving endangered species and fostering cross-border collaboration between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh to protect the Hoolock gibbon and its habitat.
