Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary: UPSC Current Affairs

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Context

The Union Environment Ministry has approved a plan for exploratory oil and gas drilling in Assam, potentially putting the endangered hoolock gibbon at further risk.

Details

Cairn India, the oil and gas unit of Vedanta Ltd, seeks to use 4.4998 hectares of reserved forest land for drilling within the Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary's eco-sensitive zone.
Although the forest advisory committee (FAC) has deferred its decision, the project has received support from both the state government and the regional environment ministry office.
Despite the seemingly small area involved, experts are concerned about the impact on hoolock gibbons, which are canopy dwellers. Any disruption to their habitat, even a minor one, could be detrimental.

Hoollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary

Aspect	Details
Name	Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary (formerly Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary or Hollongapar Reserved Forest)
Location	Jorhat district, Assam
Initial Designation	Reserved Forest (RF) on 27 August 1881, named after hollong tree (Dipterocarpus macrocarpus)
Constitution and Renaming	Officially constituted and renamed in 1997; renamed to Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary on 25 May 2004
Historical Changes	Initially 206 hectares, reduced in 1896, expanded to 2,098.62 hectares by 1997, now fragmented into five segments
Surrounding Region	Surrounded by tea gardens and villages; extends to Dissoi Valley Reserve Forest, Dissoi Reserve Forest, and Tiru Hill Reserve Forest
Tea Gardens and Villages	Includes estates of Dissoi, Kothalguri, and Hollonguri; villages such as Madhupur, Lakhipur, and others
Biota and Habitat	Canopy Layers: Upper canopy dominated by hollong tree; middle canopy by nahar; lower canopy by shrubs and herbs
Key Fauna	Hoolock gibbons (only apes in India) - Bengal slow loris (only nocturnal primate in Northeast India) Other primates: stump-tailed macaque, northern pig-tailed macaque, eastern Assamese macaque, rhesus macaque, capped langur Indian elephants, leopards, jungle cats, wild boar, civets, squirrels 219 bird species, several snake species, 211 butterfly species - Extirpated tiger
Key Flora	Upper Canopy: Dipterocarpus macrocarpus, Artocarps chaplasha, Amoora wallichi, etc. - Middle Canopy: Mesua ferrea, Dysoxylum procerum, Conarium resiniferum, etc. - Lower Canopy and Ground: Teinostachyum dullooa, Pseudostachyum polymorphum, Calamus erectus, etc.
Altitude	100 to 120 meters
Rainfall	249 cm annually
Topography	Gently slopes from southeast to northwest; waterlogged region created by Bhogdoi River
Conservation Issues	Habitat fragmentation due to tea gardens and human settlements Illegal logging Herbicides and pesticides from tea gardens Poaching risks due to migration routes Geographic isolation due to railway lines and tea gardens

Gibbons

Family: Hylobatidae
Genera: 4 (Hoolock, Hylobates, Nomascus, Symphalangus)
Species: Approximately 20
Range: Subtropical and tropical forests from eastern Bangladesh, Northeast India, southern China, to Indonesia (including Sumatra, Borneo, and Java)

Characteristics:

Size: 40-65 cm in length; 5-7.5 kg in weight
Locomotion: Brachiation (swinging from branches) up to 15 m at speeds of 55 km/h; can leap up to 8 m; bipedal walking with arms raised for balance
Appearance: Tailless, long limbs, dense fur ranging from black to light brown, often with white markings
Vocalization: Unique throat sac (symphalangus syndactyly) allows complex vocalizations; gibbons sing at sunrise and may sing alone or in duets

Behavior:

Social Structure: Highly social, often forming long-term pair bonds; sometimes mate for life but may engage in extra-pair copulations
Territorial: Defend territory with vocal and visual displays; songs can be heard up to 1 km and help identify species and location
Movement: Exceptional brachiators with ball-and-socket wrist joints; fast and agile in trees; prone to bone fractures due to their mode of travel

Habitat:

Location: Arboreal in rainforests of East, South, and Southeast Asia, including China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia (Sumatra, Borneo, Java)
Ground Activity: Walk or run bipedally with arms raised for balance when on the ground

Diet:

Primary: About 60% fruit; also consume twigs, leaves, insects, flowers, and occasionally birds' eggs

Conservation Status:

Status: Most species are endangered or critically endangered, with habitat loss being a major threat
Projects: Gibbon Rehabilitation Center in Phuket, Thailand; Kalaweit Project on Borneo and Sumatra
Awareness: 2015 was declared the Year of the Gibbon by the IUCN to raise awareness of their conservation status

More Specific Details

Aspect	Details
General Characteristics	Smallest and fastest of all apes; inhabit tropical and subtropical forests in Southeast Asia.
Intelligence	High intelligence; strong family bonds similar to other apes.
Number of Species	One of 20 gibbon species worldwide; India's only ape species.

Species	Habitat	Conservation Status
Western Hoolock Gibbon	Northeastern India, south of the Brahmaputra River and east of the Dibang River; also in eastern Bangladesh and northwest Myanmar.	Endangered (IUCN Red List)
Eastern Hoolock Gibbon	Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in India; also found in southern China and northeast Myanmar.	Vulnerable (IUCN Red List)

Characteristics	Details
Distinctive Features	White eyebrows, long arms, throat sac used for vocalizations.
Physical Adaptations	Long arms for brachiation; prehensile hands and feet for climbing.

Conservation Threats	Details
Habitat Destruction	Significant threat due to deforestation and habitat fragmentation.
Conservation Efforts	Protected under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

Terminalia myriocarpa (Hollock)

Common Names:

Hollock
East Indian Almond

Description:

Native Range: India, Southeast Asia (Himalayan foothills to Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, southern China)
Size: Typically 15-25 meters (50-82 feet); exceptional specimens up to 40 meters (130 feet)
Trunk: Straight, buttressed in older trees, wide-branching crown
Bark: Grey, smooth, flaking with age
Leaves: Elliptical, 10-20 centimeters (4-8 inches), dull green, finely toothed, evergreen with some leaf fall in drier regions
Flowers: Small, light yellow, in slender clusters, bloom from summer to autumn
Seedpods: Small, green, winged, turning bright pink when mature

Uses:

Ornamental: Showy pink seedpods and weeping form, suited for large gardens and parks
Shade: Used to shade cardamom plants in upland plantations
Wood: Medium-weight, pale brown heartwood, non-durable, used for fine furniture, cabinets, and charcoal

Climate:

Natural Habitat: Humid subtropical and tropical areas, with annual lows of 12-20°C, highs of 21-32°C, and rainfall of 1500-5500 millimeters
Growth: Stunted in low rainfall areas with dry seasons longer than 8 months

Growing Conditions:

Soil: Moist, free-draining clay and loam, pH 4.5-7.0
Light: Full to partial sun exposure
Propagation: Seed harvested when pods turn dull yellow

Problem Features:

Weed Status: Listed as a weed in some references, naturalized in Puerto Rico; assessed as a low weed risk species in Hawaii by the Hawaii Pacific Weed Risk Assessment project.

Protected Areas in Assam

Protected Area	Location	Overview	Habitat	Key Wildlife	Notable Birds	Challenges
Dehing Patkai National Park	Upper Assam (Dibrugarh, Tinsukia)	Nestled in the Dehing Patkai Elephant Reserve, named after the Dehing River and Patkai Hills. Known for its extensive lowland rainforests.	Tropical wet evergreen forests of the Assam Valley.	Chinese pangolin, flying fox, wild pig, sambar, barking deer, gaur, serow, Malayan giant squirrel, and seven wild cat species.	Oriental darter, lesser adjutant, greater spotted eagle, hornbills, hill myna.	Threats from coal mining, oil drilling, tea plantations, and deforestation.
Dibru-Saikhowa National Park	Dibrugarh and Tinsukia	Located between the Brahmaputra and Lohit Rivers, this park is known for its unique feral horses and diverse habitats. It became a Biosphere Reserve in 1997.	A mix of wet evergreen, semi-evergreen, deciduous, littoral, and swamp forests.	Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, clouded leopard, sloth bear, dhole, Gangetic dolphin, Asian elephant, wild boar, sambar, hog deer, barking deer.	—	Risks from flooding and human encroachment.
Kaziranga National Park	Golaghat and Nagaon (Assam)	Established in 1904, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is crucial for the preservation of the one-horned rhinoceros, encompassing diverse habitats.	Alluvial grasslands, savanna woodlands, and tropical moist deciduous forests.	One-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger, Asian elephant, wild water buffalo, swamp deer.	Fishing cat, small Indian civets, sloth bear, Chinese pangolin, Indian pangolins.	Flooding and human settlement encroachment.
Manas National Park	Himalayan foothills (Assam)	This UNESCO World Heritage Site is contiguous with Bhutan’s Royal Manas National Park, offering a wealth of biodiversity in riverine and forest ecosystems.	Semi-evergreen forests, moist and dry deciduous forests, savanna woodlands, grasslands.	Hispid hare, pygmy hog, wild water buffalo, reintroduced rhinoceros, elephants, sambar, Chinese pangolin, clouded leopards.	Bengal florican (largest population), great hornbills, pelicans, eagles, herons.	Issues include poaching and habitat destruction.
Nameri National Park	Sonitpur District (Assam)	Situated in the eastern Himalayas, Nameri is noted for its scenic rivers and proximity to Pakke Tiger Reserve, supporting rich biodiversity.	A variety of flora including Ajar, hollock, nahor trees, and orchids.	Tiger, leopard, sambar, dhole, gaur, clouded leopard, barking deer, marbled cat, Himalayan black bear, capped langur, Indian giant squirrel.	White-winged wood duck.	Logging, human-wildlife conflicts, and poaching threats.
Orang National Park	Darrang and Sonitpur (Assam)	Located on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra, Orang’s floodplain ecosystem supports a diverse range of wildlife similar to Kaziranga.	Moist deciduous forests, swampy wetlands, and savannah grasslands.	Indian rhinoceros, pygmy hog, Asian elephant, wild water buffalo, Bengal tiger, hog deer, Gangetic dolphin, Indian pangolin.	Rhesus macaque.	Illegal settlements, poaching, and river dynamics.
Raimona National Park	Bodoland Territorial Region	Positioned along the Himalayan foothills, this park is part of a transboundary conservation area with Bhutan, featuring rich and varied habitats.	Moist deciduous and semi-evergreen forests.	Asian elephant, Bengal tiger, clouded leopard, Indian gaur, wild water buffalo, chital, hornbill.	White-bellied heron, Oriental darter, lesser adjutant, Bengal florican, hill myna.	Habitat loss and human-wildlife conflict challenges.

Wildlife Sanctuary	Location	Overview	Habitat	Major Fauna	Notable Species	Challenges
Barak Bhuban Wildlife Sanctuary	Barak Valley, Assam (between Barak and Sonai Rivers)	Proposed sanctuary aiming to protect the diverse primate species in the region, located in Assam's Barak Valley.	Dense forests and grasslands.	Slow loris, rhesus macaque, pig-tailed macaque, stump-tailed macaque, Assamese macaque, capped langur, hoolock gibbon.	Hoolock gibbon.	Limited official protection and habitat encroachment.
Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary	Baksa and Udalguri districts, Assam	Situated near Bhutan, this sanctuary is established for the conservation of the hispid hare and pygmy hog, featuring extensive grasslands.	Tropical Moist Deciduous forests, grasslands.	Hispid hare, pygmy hog, Asian elephant, tiger, gaur.	Asian elephant, Bengal florican.	Habitat modification and human activity.
Burachapari Wildlife Sanctuary	South bank of Brahmaputra River, Assam	Integral to the Laokhowa-Burachapori ecosystem and a buffer for Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, this sanctuary supports various endangered species.	Grasslands and wetlands.	Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, wild buffalo, hog deer, elephants.	Bengal florican.	Flooding and habitat degradation.
Chakrasila Wildlife Sanctuary	Kokrajhar and Dhubri districts, Assam	Located in the hilly terrain with two key lakes, Chakrasila is crucial for the conservation of golden langurs, with a mix of hilly and wetland habitats.	Hilly terrain, lakes, and mixed forests.	Golden langur, diverse bird species.	Golden langur.	Habitat fragmentation and human encroachment.
Deepor Beel Wildlife Sanctuary (Ramsar Site)	Near Guwahati, Assam	A permanent freshwater lake with rich biodiversity, acting as a critical wetland ecosystem for migratory and resident bird species.	Freshwater lake, marshes, and surrounding forests.	Various migratory and resident birds, including waterfowl and raptors.	—	Urbanization and pollution.
Dihing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary	Assam-Arunachal border	Situated along the Dihing River, this sanctuary was recently upgraded to a National Park and features lush rainforest ecosystems.	Evergreen and semi-evergreen forests.	Diverse wildlife including elephants, tigers, and various primates.	—	Poaching and deforestation.
Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary	Karbi Anglong district, Assam	Known for its hot springs and waterfalls, Garampani is adjacent to Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary and supports diverse flora and fauna.	Forests, hot springs, and waterfalls.	Tigers, elephants, various bird species.	—	Habitat loss and human activity.
Hollongapar Gibbon Wildlife Sanctuary	Jorhat district, Assam	India’s only sanctuary for hoolock gibbons, which are endangered, along with the Bengal slow loris, making it a unique conservation site.	Tropical rainforests.	Hoolock gibbons, Bengal slow loris.	Hoolock gibbons.	Tea plantations and habitat destruction.
Lawkhowa Wildlife Sanctuary	Nagaon district, Assam	Located between Kaziranga and Orang National Parks, Lawkhowa supports a variety of species and is a key area for Indian rhinoceros and Asiatic water buffalo.	Grasslands and riverine forests.	Indian rhinoceros, Asiatic water buffalo, Bengal tiger, various deer species.	Indian rhinoceros.	Poaching and habitat degradation.
Marat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary	Near Diphu, Karbi Anglong district, Assam	Part of the Dhansiri-Lungding Elephant Reserve, this sanctuary is characterized by a tropical monsoon climate and varied vegetation.	Tropical monsoon forests, grasslands, and plantations.	Elephants, various primate species, and smaller mammals.	—	Poaching and agricultural encroachment.
Nambor Wildlife Sanctuary	Karbi Anglong Plateau, Assam	Adjacent to Garampani and part of a larger wilderness complex, Nambor is crucial for regional biodiversity.	Mixed forests and grasslands.	Elephants, tigers, various bird species.	—	Human encroachment and deforestation.
Nambor-Doigrung Wildlife Sanctuary	Golaghat district, Assam	Forms a part of the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong ecosystem, supporting a diverse array of flora and fauna.	Semi-evergreen forests and grasslands.	Elephants, tigers, various deer species.	—	Habitat loss and poaching.
Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary	Morigaon district, Assam	Known for its high population of Indian rhinoceros, Pabitora also serves as an Important Bird Area, supporting various avian species.	Grasslands and riverine forests.	Indian rhinoceros, various bird species.	Indian rhinoceros.	Overpopulation and habitat degradation.
Pani-Dihing Wildlife Sanctuary	North-east of Hollongapar Gibbon Sanctuary	Comprising grassland and wetland habitats, Pani-Dihing is bordered by significant rivers and supports diverse wildlife.	Grasslands and wetlands.	Various migratory birds and resident species.	—	Habitat loss and human activities.
Sonai Rupai Wildlife Sanctuary	Sonitpur district, Assam	Located near Pakke Tiger Reserve and Nameri National Park, this sanctuary features a variety of ecosystems along the Himalayan foothills.	Foothill forests and grasslands.	Elephants, tigers, various bird species.	—	Human encroachment and deforestation.
Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary	Near Guwahati, Assam	A small sanctuary known for isolated elephant populations and a range of other wildlife, located between Guwahati and Pobitora.	Mixed forests and grasslands.	Elephants, hoolock gibbons, various primates, and birds.	—	Urbanization and habitat fragmentation.
Barail Wildlife Sanctuary	Cachar district, Assam	Located in southern Assam, Barail Sanctuary encompasses the North Cachar and Barail Reserved Forests, with diverse habitats supporting various species.	Mixed forests and grasslands.	Various mammals and bird species.	—	Deforestation and human activities.
East Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuary	East Karbi Anglong district, Assam	Known for its rich forest cover and diverse wildlife, East Karbi Anglong forms part of the larger Karbi Anglong Reserve Forest.	Semi-evergreen forests and tropical moist deciduous forests.	Various wildlife including elephants and tigers.	—	Poaching and habitat loss.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Gibbons are primarily found in which of the following regions?

1. China

2. Thailand

3. Bangladesh

4. Sumatra

Select the correct answer using the code below:

a) 1 and 4 only

b) 1, 2 and 3 only

c) 2,3 and 4 only

d) 1, 2, 3, 4

Answer: d) 1, 2, 3, 4

Explanation:

Gibbons are arboreal primates that inhabit the rainforests of East, South, and Southeast Asia. Their range includes a diverse array of regions such as China, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, and Indonesia, specifically the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, and Java. These regions provide the dense, tropical forests that gibbons need for their tree-dwelling lifestyle, supporting their complex social structures and diverse diets.