Guest guest Posted March 31, 2009 Report Share Posted March 31, 2009 http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090331/jsp/siliguri/story_10748748.jsp Gibbons on rise in Assam forest OUR CORRESPONDENT *Guwahati, March 30:* The population of gibbons has increased at the Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary, much to the cheer of the forest officials and nature lovers. The latest census found 96 gibbons at the sanctuary, which is the only protected area in India to be named after a primate species. A forest official said 25 families and five isolated gibbons were found during the census conducted recently. “This is a near accurate figure since the global positioning system was used to ascertain the number of the only Indian ape population at the sanctuary,” the official said. About 72 gibbons were found at the sanctuary in the last census, conducted about six years back. The official said there would be more good news for the sanctuary, especially for the gibbon population, after the railways completed construction of the natural bridge above the railway tracks passing through the 19.5sqkm sanctuary. At least three gibbon families got separated after the railway tracks were laid through the sanctuary several decades back. When laying the rail track in the 1930s, none in the railways or the forest department realised that the gibbon population would be bifurcated along with the stretches of forest on either side. The forest official said the credit for the success story of gibbon conservation at the sanctuary goes to the dedicated efforts by the forest guards and the members of several NGOs. Conservation efforts gained momentum after the Holongapar reserve forest was upgraded and declared as Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary in 1979. “We constantly interact with the villagers residing along the sanctuary to spread awareness for protecting the gibbons. These awareness meetings have really helped with no gibbons falling prey to poaching in the last few years,” the official said. -- http://www.stopelephantpolo.com http://www.freewebs.com/azamsiddiqui Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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