Stress tests and drones: the new playbook to protect the endangered western hoolock gibbon

Key Points

1. The western hoolock gibbon is the only non-human ape species in India.
2. The Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary in Assam is a key habitat for the western hoolock gibbon.
3. The western hoolock gibbon population has declined from an estimated 100,000 to less than 5,000 in the last half-century.
4. Habitat loss, fragmentation, and hunting are major threats to the western hoolock gibbon.
5. A British-era railway line splits the Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary, contributing to habitat fragmentation.
6. Conservation Initiatives and The Habitats Trust are working on technology-based solutions for gibbon identification and monitoring.
7. Local communities are being involved in conservation efforts to protect gibbon habitats.
8. Aaranyak is studying the genetics and stress levels of gibbon populations to understand in-breeding and the impact of human pressures.