GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted the unique relationship between the Moran community and Hoolock Gibbons, India’s only ape, in Barekuri village of Assam’s Tinsukia district in his Mann ki Baat radio programme.
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the hoolock gibbons are “endangered”.
Hoolock gibbons are found in eastern Bangladesh and northeastern Indian states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, and Tripura.
PM Modi, in the 113th episode of his monthly radio programme, described how the villagers have developed a deep connection with the gibbons, incorporating them into their traditions.
“You must have seen many films about the love between humans and animals, but a real story is being told these days in Assam. In the small village of Barekuri in Tinsukia district, the people of Moran community and the Hoolock Gibbons, known as ‘Holo Bandar’ here, live together. Hoolock Gibbons have made their home in this village,” PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister said, “You will be surprised to know that the villagers have a very deep connection with gibbons, continuing to follow their traditional values. Therefore, they did all those things that would strengthen their relationship with the gibbons.”
“They realised that the gibbons loved bananas, so they started cultivating bananas. Additionally, they perform rituals related to gibbons’ birth and death just as they do for their own people,” PM Modi said.
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He also pointed out that the Moran community members have been named after gibbons. He further added that the villagers recently addressed issues caused by electric wires affecting the gibbons and found a solution.
Besides, PM Modi also praised the use of 3D printing technology in Arunachal Pradesh, which is helping to protect animals from being hunted for their horns and teeth.
